News Oilers Team Notes

[Edmonton Oilers]

GDB -6.0: More NHLers in the lineup as Oilers host Canucks for pre-season tune up (6 PM MT, Oilers+)

We’re almost through this thing, friends, and I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Sunday night’s matchup against the Canucks (6 PM MT at Rogers Place) is another box to tick on the way to the regular season, and the only thing I really care about right now is getting there with everyone still standing. At this stage of the pre-season, it’s all about staying healthy, getting a few at-bats in, and fine-tuning, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to see the Oilers take care of business against a divisional rival.

Let’s not forget the spiciness that’s been bubbling between these two clubs since the playoffs a couple of years back. Anytime Edmonton and Vancouver square off, it always feels like there’s a little more on the line, and I love it. The Oilers went 2-1-0 against the Canucks last season, and I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t start the annual head-to-head on the right foot. The way I see it, there’s no better time to start beating the Canucks than right now, even if it’s still technically pre-season.

Oddly, I hope Vancouver is good this year. Pacific Division rivalries are way more fun when both teams are throwing punches that actually land, and that wasn’t the case in 2024-25. The Canucks stunk, the Oilers were good, and while both fanbases hoped for more fireworks after an intense playoff series, the reality is that the only ones Vancouver was fighting were themselves. They had drama in the media, drama in the room, and the result was missing the playoffs, with the organization trading off pieces that seemed like core players only months before.

While the rosters on both sides are still far from being finalized, we’re starting to see more and more NHL regulars sprinkled into the mix, and that shift should bring an extra layer of pace as the pre-season moves along. With the Oilers’ big dogs dressing for their second tune-up of the year, it feels like the right time to expect a little more from them. The first game is always about finding your legs, but this one should be about building toward game speed, knocking off some of that summer rust, and giving us a better glimpse of what’s to come once the real schedule kicks off.

Are the Canucks finally ready to roll, or are they going to get in their own way again? Are they going to push their way back to the top of the Pacific Division, or are they going to stumble through another frustrating campaign? Either way, Sunday’s game is just a taste of what’s to come, and we’ll get an even bigger dose later in October when we roll into Vancouver for the #NationVacation. Until then, let’s just get through the rest of this pre-season without anyone getting hurt and be ready to crank things up for real.

LINEUPS…​

Oilers​

Draisaitl – McDavid – Frederic
Howard – RNH – Mangiapane
Henrique – Tomasek – Savoie
Janmark – Lazar – Kapanen

Ekholm – Bouchard
Nurse – Stecher
Kulak – Emberson

Skinner

The Oilers rolled with some heavy artillery at practice on Saturday, icing a lineup that featured McDavid and Draisaitl back together on the top line with Trent Frederic. Depth guys like Tomasek, Savoie, and Emberson also slotted in, giving us a look at how the coaching staff is mixing veterans with hopefuls. These combos could very well be what we see against Vancouver, but I’ll keep updating as news comes out.

Canucks​

O’Connor – Chytil – Garland
Bains – Raty – Karlsson
Sasson – Cootes – Lekkerimaki
Labate – Aman – Sherwood

Marcus Pettersson – Hronek
Forbort – Kudryavtsev
(Other) Elias Pettersson – Joseph

Tolopilo

Based on what was happening at practice in Vancouver yesterday, the Canucks are rolling into Edmonton with a mixed bag of vets and kids, as they continue to work through cuts on way to their opening day lineup. They’ve got some NHL names sprinkled in — Chytil, Garland, Hronek — but a lot of this roster is about giving their prospects a look. Most notably, Conor Garland will be making his pre-season debut for the Canucks, per Jeff Paterson from Canucksarmy. On paper, this is a lineup the Oilers should be able to handle, but you know how these pre-season nights can go.

TONIGHT…​

Game Day Prediction: After a sloppy start to the game by both clubs, the Oilers get the first goal and don’t look back on their way to a 5-3 win.

Obvious Game Day Prediction: Leon Draisaitl will score his first power play goal of the pre-season, and he’ll do it from his office in the right circle.

Not-So-Obvious Game Day Prediction: I’m expecting two fights in tonight’s game. Young guys are looking for jobs, and the veterans already have a healthy disdain for each other. It’s a recipe for violence, my friends.

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/game-...ton-oilers-vancouver-canucks-6-pm-oilers-plus

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

McDrai dominates as Oilers down Canucks: Recap, Highlights, and Reaction

We’re less than two weeks away from the start of the regular season.

On Sunday night, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Vancouver Canucks in their final pre-season home game, defeating the Canucks 4-3 to move to 4-1-1 this pre-season. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one!

It took just 88 seconds into the game for the Oilers to score the game opener. Connor McDavid’s pass to the middle of the ice found its way to Leon Draisaitl in front of the net. Draisaitl waited out Thatcher Demko, and after his shot hit the side of the net, McDavid was able to wrap it in.

Davo from behind the red line #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/f3pFDNDvA5

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 29, 2025

The Oilers extended their lead to two midway through the first, as McDavid’s original shot was saved, but Trent Frederic was right there to bang in the rebound for his first of the pre-season.

Freddy in front #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/GXFNxy1tN4

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 29, 2025

Their lead reached three with three minutes left in the second. After a faceoff win on the power play, the puck found its way to Leon Draisaitl from his spot, with the German burying it to make it 3-0.

Leon launches it #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/8C0zl7qI2I

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 29, 2025

The Canucks made a game of it, scoring two goals in 43 seconds to cut the Oilers’ lead to one. Thankfully, the game-winning goal was scored midway through the third period, as McDavid and Draisaitl earned a two-on-one. After waiting out the Canucks’ defender, McDavid was able to pass it on his back to Draisaitl, who tapped it in.

McDrai #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/inT6dEuyqS

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 29, 2025

With the net open, the Canucks got to within one, but were unable to find the game-tying goal as the Oilers held on for a 4-3 victory.

Takeaways…​

In their last game, both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl finished with a -3. This game saw Draisaitl score twice and pick up two assists, while McDavid had a goal and two assists. That said, they need to tighten up defensively, as they had numerous defensive turnovers leading to high-danger scoring chances for the Canucks. This also extended to Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm.

Trent Frederic played alongside McDavid and Draisaitl, and he had a solid performance. Especially in the first period, as he scored a goal and got an assist. Frederic is there to win them the puck, and he did just that in the second period, as he forced a turnover that led to one of many two-on-ones for McDavid and Draisaitl.

Ike Howard had a pretty rough game, finishing as a -2 in just under 15 minutes of action. He played alongside Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane, a line that we could see at some point in 2025-26.

It was a pretty quiet night by all the other forwards. Quinn Hutson, Kasperi Kapanen, Noah Philp, Josh Samanski, and David Tomášek find the same success that all of them had in recent games.

A few defencemen stood out, surprisingly, Atro Leppänen was not one of them. His defence partner, Alec Regula, had a strong game. As did Cam Dineen, a player acquired in the Nick Bjugstad trade back in 2023.

Stuart Skinner stopped 25 of 28 shots in the victory. The first goal came on a screen, the second on a net front deflection, and the third on a one-timer courtesy of a great pass. It would’ve been nice to see him save one of those shots, but he did enough for the victory.

There are just two more pre-season games on the docket. The next one is on Wednesday at 8:00 PM MT against the Seattle Kraken in Washington. As for the other one, the Canucks and Oilers will match up again next Friday at 8:00 PM MT.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/conno...ncouver-canucks-recap-highlights-and-reaction

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers’ Knoblauch says Podkolzin ‘hopefully’ going to play last pre-season game

One of the more important players on the Edmonton Oilers roster is expected to return soon.

When speaking to the media after the team’s 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch gave an update on forward Vasily Podkolzin, who was granted a leave of absence last week after his father, Alexander, suddenly passed away last Tuesday.

Knoblauch stated that Podkolzin will be returning from Russia later this week.

“We’re expecting his flight to come back Tuesday night,” Knoblauch said. “So, we’re not going to get him in that Wednesday game. He’ll skate on Wednesday, skate on Thursday, and then hopefully, he can play that last exhibition game.”

That last preseason affair will see Edmonton pay a visit to the Canucks on Friday night. The team will get a few days off before beginning the 2025-26 regular season with the season premiere of The Battle of Alberta, hosting the Calgary Flames next Wednesday.

Podkolzin came to the Oilers last August, when he was acquired in a trade that sent a fourth-round pick to the Canucks just a few months after signing his latest contract, a deal with a $1 million cap hit. He was brought to Edmonton not long after the Oilers lost forward Dylan Holloway to the St. Louis Blues.

The news of Podkolzin’s father’s death came the day after he signed a three-year contract extension. The deal, set to kick in next season, will carry an AAV of $2.95 million through the 2028-29 campaign.

Podkolzin proved to be a solid player in Edmonton’s top 12. In 82 games, the first time he’s played a full NHL schedule, the Moscow native posted eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points. He scored three goals and seven assists for 10 points in the postseason as well, as the Oilers made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, only to lose to the Florida Panthers for the second year in a row.

It was the 24-year-old’s first full season in the NHL since his rookie season with the Canucks in 2021-22, having split the previous two seasons with Vancouver and its American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

Across four seasons, Podkolzin has appeared in 219 NHL regular-season games, scoring 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmon...-hopefully-going-to-play-last-pre-season-game

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

‘Better and better every day’: After underwhelming early, Oilers’ Ike Howard begins to find his way

Things may not have started on the right foot for Ike Howard this year.

After refusing to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning who drafted him in the first round of the 2023 draft, he found himself dealt to the Edmonton Oilers, an organization teeming with top-end talent, but needing to get younger.

At 21 years old, he certainly fits that bill. So does he in terms of what he’s done offensively in his own career, using his quick release to pile up goals and points at Michigan State University, winning last year’s Hobey Baker Award.

Despite all that talent, it took a while for it to show at his first NHL training camp, but day by day, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch is seeing the growth.

“Howard’s just continued to get better and better every day,” he said. “I think he got here (for rookie camp and)… wasn’t as strong as we were anticipating.

“First day of main camp, I thought he put in a good showing and just continued to get more impressive every time. Those young guys have to feel comfortable, or not just guys, old guys who are coming to a new team.

“It takes a while to get comfortable, but we’ve been very happy with the way Ike’s been performing and getting comfortable and making some plays.”

Howard found himself on a line alongside a couple of NHL veterans on Sunday night, including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane, a potential second line as the team will load up Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Trent Frederic on the top line to start the season.

While they may not be the most physically imposing trio on line two, Knoblauch isn’t concerned about that.

“I look at Seattle. They’ve got a line last year with Eberle, a couple of guys, they weren’t very big, and they were very effective,” he said. “I think if you’re tenacious, smart, you can be an effective line.

“I’m not saying these three are going to work, and that’s the plan going forward, but I don’t think necessarily you need a big guy on the line to be successful.”

Howard’s now drawn in for four pre-season games this year, scoring a goal and an assist. He’s got some time on the power play, where he ripped home a shot from Draisaitl’s office, for his goal, and ranks second among Oilers forwards with eight shots on goal.

While the four game sample size is incredibly small, the Oilers have broke even at five-on-five in terms of shot attempt share and expected goal share with him on the ice, controlling the scoring chance share at 57.1 percent and the high-danger scoring chance share at 58.3 percent — both good signs.

As alluded to by Oilers radio man Bob Stuaffer, Howard is among a group of fresh faces — including Matt Savoie, David Tomasek, Noah Philp and Alec Regula — who he foresees making the opening day roster.

They’ll be thrust into important roles early on this season marking a true test of the organization’s ability to not only acquire talent, but place them in places to succeed.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/bette...edmonton-oilers-ike-howard-begins-to-find-way

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers looking to sign Walman for seven or eight years, two sides not agreeing on AAV

Insider Frank Seravalli joined Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now on Monday. Among the topics of discussion brought up was the contract negotiations between the team and defenceman Jake Walman.

Seravalli cited that the sides are looking at a long-term deal. However, with the rising salary cap over the next few years, the biggest hurdle between the two sides is determining the dollar amount for Walman’s new deal.

“My understanding is that this has been an ongoing conversation between the Oilers and Walman’s camp,” Seravalli said. “I believe the Oilers’ interest is in trying to sign Walman to a long-term deal, potentially as long as seven or eight years. I think there’s been some disagreement with the cap rising as to what Wallman’s AAV would be.”

Seravalli mentioned that the Oilers were hoping to put pen to paper with the 29-year-old prior to next week.

“I think the Oilers were hopeful, at one point, that they’d be able to get Walman locked up before the start of the regular season. Now, there’s still essentially 7-8 days left to do so. But I wouldn’t necessarily hold my breath.”

Walman is heading into the final season of his three-year contract that he signed with the Detroit Red Wings in February 2023. That deal carries a cap hit of $3.4 million with a modified no-trade clause. Walman was acquired by the Oilers at the trade deadline from the San Jose Sharks and proved to be a vital asset on the blue line as the team made it back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row.

Walman ended up scoring eight points in 15 games for the Oilers, finishing the 2024-25 campaign with a career-high 33 assists and 40 points in 65 games. He also notched two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 22 postseason games.

McDavid’s name unsurprisingly came up during the interview. Seravalli nixed the idea that several big-name players seem to be waiting to see what McDavid’s next contract will look like prior to signing their own deals.

“The Edmonton Oilers have been drooling, frothing, to try and get a deal done with McDavid, really to no avail. So, it’s not on the team front. And frankly, the market has zero to do with Connor McDavid because he’s totally in a class of his own. Whatever he wants to sign for, he will. So he’s not impacting anyone else’s deal.”

A particular deadline that’s on the horizon for McDavid and the Oilers is Oct. 6. That’s the final day when Edmonton can sign its captain to a contract with a deferred salary.

“I want to be abundantly clear in case anyone wants to clip this and or tweet it,” Seravalli said. “I am not saying that Connor McDavid is interested in a deferred salary configuration of his next deal. However, if he is at all, then the time is nigh to do it. … If Connor McDavid wants to sign a deal that gives the Oilers a chance to win by lessening his AAV, and also puts max dollars in his pocket, this is the way to do it.”

You can watch the full interview below:

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oiler...-or-eight-years-two-sides-not-agreeing-on-aav

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

NHL Notebook: Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to record-setting contract extension

The bar has been raised.

The stalemate between the Minnesota Wild and superstar Kirill Kaprizov came to an end Tuesday morning as they agreed on an eight-year contract worth $136 million. His new deal becomes the richest in NHL history in terms of both total and annual value, with Kaprizov set to earn $17 million per year when it kicks in for the 2026-27.

Kaprizov’s deal, according to PuckPedia, will see him earn a $1-million salary in each season and the rest paid out in front-loaded signing bonuses. Years one through four will see the bonus total $18.1 million, year five $16 million, year six $14.2 million, and the final two years $12.7 million, with a full no-movement clause in each season.

His new deal is worth $1 million more annually than what he reportedly turned down earlier in September. So while Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl will be the highest-paid player in the league this season with his $14.5 million deal, it will be quickly surpassed when Kaprizov’s deal kicks in.

Since Kaprizov entered the league during the shortened 2021 season, he’s become one of the preeminent offensive talents, racking up 185 goals and 386 points in 319 games over the last five years. Only six players have as many goals and assists over that time: Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, and Mikko Rantanen.

The deal, of course, has far-reaching implications as it resets the market with other stars like McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kyle Connor, Artemi Panarin, and Jason Robertson will all need new contracts before the 2026-27 season.

Other news and notes…​

• It’s not all good news in Minnesota, however, as forward Mats Zuccarello will miss at least two months with a lower-body injury. Zuccarello, 38, has missed all of training camp with the injury, with the timeline for a return set to have him back on the ice in late November. He drew in for 69 games last year with the Wild, scoring 19 goals and 54 points, adding a goal and three points in six playoff games.
• More news on the injury front, as the Vancouver Canucks will be without forward Nils Hoglander for an extended period. The team announced he will miss eight to ten weeks after undergoing lower-body surgery. Hoglander left a game last Wednesday against the Calgary Flames after taking two hits early in the second period. He appeared in 72 games last year for the Canucks, scoring eight goals and 25 points.
• Out east, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed goaltender Anthony Stolarz to a four-year contract extension Monday. The deal carries a $3.75 million AAV, according to PuckPedia, with $11.135 million of the total $15 million deal being paid out in signing bonuses over the course of the deal. All four years carry a modified no-movement clause, with a 16-team no-trade list in year one, 10-team lists in years two and three, and a five-team no-trade list in year four.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-n...v-record-setting-17-million-per-year-contract

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

GDB -7.0: Oilers Bubble Players Look to Impress (8pm, Oilers+)

The Edmonton Oilers’ preseason is almost over.

The Seattle Kraken will ice many of their NHL players, at least the healthy ones, tonight, as they skate in their sixth and final preseason game. This should help Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch get a better evaluation of the players battling for the final roster spots. When you play eight preseason games, the first four games are difficult to evaluate players on, because the rosters are often made up of 40-50% of an actual NHL roster.

However, tonight, it sounds like Matt Savoie, Isaac Howard, Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson, Alec Regula and Atro Leppänen (not a guarantee they all play as illness has spread around the Oilers’ room) will face a more NHL-laden lineup, and a strong game could impact whether they make the opening-season roster. Unfortunately, Noah Philp and David Tomášek could miss tonight due to illness. Neither skated yesterday. Philp has had a very strong preseason with four points in four games, and he’s been noticeable each game, but he might have to miss tonight. The Oilers have recalled James Hamblin, Connor Clattenburg and Viljami Marjala from Bakersfield, just so they can ice a full lineup.

Had Philp dressed and played well, would it have impacted the Oilers’ final roster decision? Possibly. He’ll be an interesting case study to see if the Oilers keep him up or send him to Bakersfield, which comes with the possibility of being claimed on waivers. It is very difficult to predict which players will get claimed. The vast majority don’t get claimed, as the other 31 teams usually feel they have a player of similar capabilities and talent. But it only takes one team to like a player. Philp, if he is waived, is hoping there is one team who views him as an NHLer.

I hope Philp can play tonight or Friday. He’s played well and deserves a look against an opposing roster filled with NHL players.

QUICK HITS…​

— Jani Nyman leads NHL preseason with four goals. He’s played five games, so that helps, but he’s looked good, and Seattle could benefit from having someone become a 30+ goal scorer. Jared McCann is the only skater in Kraken history to score 27+ goals. He had 27 in 2022, 29 in 2024 and 40 in 2023. The Kraken finished 16th in goals for last year with 245 and were only one back of Florida. They were 24th in goals against (262), so they’d like to reduce their GA, but finding a 30-goal scorer would be huge for a team that, outside of 2023, has never really had a go-to goal scorer.

— The NHL has met with many NHL teams to answer questions about the new rules for the upcoming season. The “paper loan” deal, which states if a player is re-assigned to the AHL, they have to play a game before being recalled, isn’t that strict. The basic point of the rule is they don’t want teams doing what Carolina did last season, which was send a player down for one day, and for that day the player gets paid their AHL salary instead of the NHL salary. The rule protects players from losing money, simply due to a paper transaction. For instance, if a team sends a player down on Monday and the team has a game that night, and during the game, a player gets injured, the team can recall the player the next day or two. The rule doesn’t mean a player HAS to play one AHL game before being recalled, it simply is done so teams stop sending guys down, while keeping them in the NHL city, but losing money for one day.

— Stan Bowman made a smart trade today. He acquired Connor Ingram from Utah for future considerations (which is nothing). The Mammoth retain $800K, so he is now a $1.15m cap hit for Edmonton, and with him being in the minors, none of his salary will count on the cap because it is below the threshold. This move, rather than claiming him on waivers, allows them to have him in the AHL, and not impact their salary cap. Ingram will be given the opportunity to get back on track in Bakersfield. He played 22 games for the Mammoth last season and then joined the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. He was in the program once before in 2020/2021 when he was with Nashville. He used the program to help him learn how to deal with an obsessive-compulsive disorder that had been undiagnosed in his career up until that point. In between stints in the program, Ingram had two really solid seasons with the Arizona Coyotes organization.

In those two seasons (2023,2024) Ingram started 74 games, which was tied for 30th, and he was 21st in Sv% at .907. He was solid behind a rather porous Coyotes’ defense. The question is: Can he return to that form? The Oilers took a low-risk bet in making the trade. Ingram will start in Bakersfield, and they will evaluate how he plays. He didn’t take part in the Mammoth’s training camp, so he’ll need some time in Bakersfield to get up to speed, but after 10-15 starts, they will see where he is at.

— “I talk to Judd (Moldaver) almost every day,” said Bowman. “We have had very positive conversations, but I can’t add perspective of what is on their side, but we are ready, and we’d like to sign him. Nothing changes on our front, we just continue to have open dialogue,” Bowman said regarding Connor McDavid’s contract.

I’m curious what Oilersnation feels. In the comments put the date you think he signs.

— I’m not sold the Kirill Kaprizov contract will impact McDavid’s decision. I don’t think AAV was ever an issue. If he wants to be the highest paid player in the NHL, the Oilers will pay him, but I’m not sold he wants to be, because under the current NHL structure, the more you pay one player, the less you have to fill out the remaining roster. The best forwards can still only play 22-24 minutes (36.6 to 40%) of the game in the playoffs. They need a solid team around them.

McDavid’s current contract began in the 2018/19 season. The salary cap was $79.5m and his salary made up 15.7%. His percentage of cap dropped every year and this season he’s at 13% of the cap. Let’s say he signs for $17m next year — he’d take 16.3% of the $104m cap. In his second year when the cap goes up to $113m, he’d be at 15%. Him making $17m won’t change things that much, if he opts for that AAV. Maybe he decides to sign a two-year deal at $14m AAV (same as Leon Draisaitl), because he values winning over making the most money. Next year his percentage of cap would be 13.4% and it would be 12.3% in 2027/28.

Ultimately, when McDavid makes his decision, I believe it will be based mainly around the opportunity to win. Edmonton gives him a good chance. They’ve made two-consecutive Cup Finals. They have skill and a significant amount of playoff experience, and not many teams can offer that. I think money will be part of the equation, but not the leading factor.

LINEUPS…​

Oilers​

Will update them as we know officially. Calvin Pickard will start in goal, that we know for certain, and Stuart Skinner is scheduled to start Friday in Vancouver.
It is a preseason game, but rosters for each team are more secretive than the Caramilk secret. Why? Why?

Kraken…​

They are dealing with some injuries of their own. Ryker Evans is out six to eight weeks with an upper body injury. They also have Vince Dunn, Jared McCann, Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson battling different ailments. Head coach Lane Lambert offered a vague “They are progressing,” update on their status. The Kraken lineup won’t have some of their top players, but they will still have a strong percentage of NHL players.

TONIGHT…​

Photoshop by Tom Kostiuk

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Edmonton keeps rolling in the preseason with a 3-2 win.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilersnation celebrates at the end of the night, regardless of the outcome, because it means only one more preseason game remains.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Ike Howard scores.

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/gdb-7-0-edmonton-oilers-seattle-kraken-game-preview-8pm-oilers

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers inch closer to games that matter after loss to Kraken: Recap, Highlights, and Reaction

Leave it to Jason Gregor to nail the obvious game day prediction: “Oilersnation celebrates at the end of the night, regardless of the outcome, because it means only one more preseason game remains.”

That’s exactly what happened on Wednesday night in a game that I could imagine few Edmonton Oilers were excited to play in. With a flu bug running through the room, the club was forced to recall three players from the AHL who had been recently sent down: Viljami Marjala, James Hamblin and Connor Clattenburg.

They might’ve been the only excited ones, as there wasn’t much to cheer for in the Oilers’ 4-2 loss.

It didn’t take long for the scoring to open, as with Darnell Nurse in the penalty box for tripping, Josh Mahura would take a long shot, beating Calvin Pickard clean.

Josh Mahura blasts one from the point and gives the Kraken a 1-0 Lead : @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/EawDUslej6

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

Six minutes later with the Oilers on a power play of their own, Kraken defenceman Jamie Oleksiak would send a puck to Edmonton’s end. Pickard would go out to play it behind his net, but he bobbled the puck, allowing Ryan Winterton to score on a wraparound.

Ryan Winterton steals the puck from Pickard and wraps it around to give the Kraken a 2-0 Lead

: @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/6B9WifaT9X

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

Seattle’s special teams remained special in that first, as with just over five minutes left in the frame, Eeli Tolvanen would give the Kraken a 3-0 lead with a half-slapper that, once again, would beat Pickard clean.

Eeli Tolvanen with the one-timer to give the Kraken a 3-0 lead.

: @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/ItuapyhTgK

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

The Oilers managed to show some life, however, as Darnell Nurse would score on a power play with under three minutes left in the period.

Darnell Nurse cuts the lead to 3-1 with a wrister from the point!

: @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/TqWpHHpJYw

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

Edmonton carried that juice over into the second frame, as it would take just 28 seconds for Matt Savoie to score his first pre-season goal. It wasn’t anything flashy, though, as Adam Henrique would fire a pass to the middle of the ice that deflected off Savoie and in. They all count the same.

Matthew Savoie taps it home after a great play from Ike & Henrique!

: @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/owf0dwu67Y

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

The score would stay the same until the third period where Winterton would score his second, driving to the net on a two-on-one and tipping a pass over Pickard’s shoulder.

Ryan Winterton scores his 2nd of the night extending the Kraken lead to 4-2

: @EdmontonOilers via Oilers+ pic.twitter.com/4PLicTdvES

— Oilersnation.com, Oily Since ‘07 (@OilersNation) October 2, 2025

Edmonton wraps up their pre-season schedule Friday with a visit to the Vancouver Canucks.

Takeaways…​

• The Oilers decision to wait in posting their lineups in the pre-season is nothing short of silly, but when they did, something caught my eye: the defensive pairing of Darnell Nurse and Alec Regula. There’s been talk about Regula making the team out of camp, and he’s played with Arto Leppanen, Cam Dineen, Brett Kulak and now Nurse in the pre-season. Leppanen’s been impressive and while he’s likely destined for the AHL Condors to kick off his North America tenure, he’s somebody who could be an early recall. Dineen is a possible AHL partner if Regula is sent down, but Kulak and Nurse — as we all know — will be NHL regulars this year. Nurse and Regula led the way in ice-time among defencemen.
• Speaking of Leppanen, he was paired with Troy Stecher, and with them on the ice at five-on-five, the Oilers outshot the Kraken 5-2 and controlled 75.06 percent of the expected goal share.
• Matt Savoie was all over the ice. Along with the goal, he took six shots on goal on eight attempts, generating six high-danger scoring chances and 1.49 individual expected goals. I can’t wait to see he does this season.
• The Oilers couldn’t stay out of the penalty box taking six minor penalties, struggling to kill them as they allowed two power play goals against.

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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at [email protected].

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-lose-seattle-kraken-recap-highlights-and-reaction

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

NHL Notebook: Panthers’ Mikkola and Ducks’ Lacombe sign eight-year extensions

Fresh off back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, the Florida Panthers have now locked up another key part of their roster long term.

On Thursday, Panthers GM Bill Zito announced that defenceman Niko Mikkola has signed an eight-year, $40 million contract extension, carrying an average annual value of $5 million. Mikkola is on the final year of a $2.5 million cap hit before his new deal kicks in next season. His new contract runs through the 2033-34 season, meaning he’ll be 38 years old when he next hits free agency.

“Saw all the boys signing here, so it was a no-brainer,” Mikkola said, per Panthers reporter Jameson Olive.

The number may appear a little steep for Florida, but Mikkola has played a crucial role on the Panthers second defensive pairing over the past two seasons, playing big minutes through both Cup runs. He had a career-best postseason last year, with over 20 minutes played a night, and three goals and three assists.

“You love those guys because they’re part of the fabric of your group,” said head coach Paul Maurice, per Olive. “They do all the hard things. Sometimes in that role, because you’ve got to take care of your top-end guys, they get missed or your lose them. Did not want to see him go to free agency.”

With that business done, Mikkola and the Panthers now shift their attention to the upcoming season, as they attempt the three-peat this year.

Meanwhile, another top defenceman came off the board on Thursday, as Jackson LaCombe signed an eight-year, $9 million AAV extension with the Anaheim Ducks. The $72 million total figure is the largest a player has received in Ducks history.

LaCombe’s contract kicks in next season at the conclusion of his current deal which sees him earning less than a million a year. He is currently the only Ducks defenceman signed past next season. Currently 24, the deal will keep him in Anaheim until he’s 33 years old.

With the conclusion of Trouba’s $8 million a year contract this season, LaCombe’s extension doesn’t change too much on the books for Anaheim. The Ducks currently boast $13 million in cap space heading into this year, but will look to sign extensions for top prospects Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson, both on the final years on their entry-level contracts and set to become restricted free agents next summer. LaCombe’s large payday will almost certainly have a big impact on the contracts they sign, as well as setting the market for other young blue liners across the league.

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/nhl-n...ks-jackson-lacombe-sign-eight-year-extensions

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

5 NHL Futures You Should Consider for the 2025-26 Season

The NHL season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to dig into the futures market. From Calder Trophy long shots to Rocket Richard bounce-backs and division finishes with significant value, there are plenty of betting angles to watch. Here are a few plays worth considering before the puck drops.

Connor McDavid +1400 to win the Rocket Richard​

Connor McDavid has openly said he wants to get back to his 60-goal form this season. It was a down year in 2024-25, when he scored only 26 goals in 67 games, following a career-high 64 two years earlier. It was his lowest goal total since his rookie season.

Going from a career low to a Rocket Richard winner seems like a huge leap, but if anyone can do it, it’s McDavid. With Leon Draisaitl now a permanent linemate, he should generate far better scoring opportunities.

If you don’t like the straight Rocket Richard bet, there are alternatives. For example, bet365 offers milestone goal totals, up to 50 goals.

Sam Rinzel +4000 to win the Calder Trophy​

Ivan Demidov is already the runaway favourite to win the Calder Trophy. After a short stint in North America to end last season — scoring two points in the regular season and another two in the playoffs over a combined seven games — the hype around Montreal’s potential next star is real. At +180, there’s little value in betting Demidov to win the award. So, how about going deeper?

It’s a strong rookie class with Ryan Leonard, Michael Misa, and Zeev Buium all expected to become full-time NHLers. One player floating under the radar, despite excitement around him last season, is Sam Rinzel. Rinzel, a Chicago Blackhawks defenceman, played nine NHL games last season and scored five points. He’s on track to be a top-pairing defenceman for the Blackhawks this season and is projected to run their top power-play unit. At +4000 to win the Calder Trophy, that’s tremendous value for a player who will be given maximum opportunity.

Steven Ellis was on Oilersnation Everyday last week and suggested Rinzel could have a rookie season similar to Brock Faber, who finished second in Calder voting. His line has already dropped from +5000 to +4000 in the lead-up to the season, so don’t hesitate to jump on this price.

Anaheim +600 to finish 4th in the Pacific Division​

I’m high on the Anaheim Ducks this season — maybe even too high. They’ve been on the rise for a few years now, thanks to their youthful core. The odds of them finishing fourth are solid, considering their roster and a weaker division. Vancouver and Calgary both have roster question marks, which leaves the door open for Anaheim.

The Ducks also made strong additions this summer with Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund, while naming Joel Quenneville as head coach. If you think fourth is too high, you can also get them at +450 to finish fifth in the division.

Florida +550 to finish 4th in the Atlantic Division​

Normally, you wouldn’t pick the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions to finish as low as fourth in the division. But with the injuries Florida has already suffered — Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk are both sidelined — this feels like a season where they could drop some extra games.

Ottawa finished only one point behind them last season, and Montreal was close too, despite winning seven fewer games. Both teams improved this offseason, so closing the gap on the Panthers seems plausible given their injuries.

Don’t get me wrong: Florida is still a strong team. But if they’re going to fall off, this feels like the year.

Carolina +450 to be eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final​

No team loves to get to the Eastern Conference Final and lose more than the Carolina Hurricanes. Since beating the Oilers in the 2006 Stanley Cup Final (boo!), they’ve made it to the ECF four times and won only once. They’ve had a strong lineup over the past few years, and this summer, they’ve improved further with the addition of Nik Ehlers. However, the superstar player is still missing from their roster. The Metropolitan division is weak and they remain the top team amongst that group. Once they get into the Conference Final, they’ll have to face either Toronto, Florida, or Tampa Bay, who all have significantly better firepower. Honestly, this is my favourite futures bet of the bunch.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/5-nhl-futures-you-should-consider-for-2025-26-season

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilersnation Radio: One more Oilers pre-season game before showtime

It’s Friday afternoon, which means a fresh episode of Oilersnation Radio is ready to massage your eardrums with an hour of off-season Oilers talk. On today’s podcast, the fellas discussed the Oilers’ trade for Connor Ingram, Jake Walman’s extension talks, line combos, and much more.

We kicked off the Friday episode of ONR with a delicious debate about what has been the biggest surprise through training camp and the pre-season. From the way Alec Regula is potentially earning a spot despite low expectations heading into camp to Bowman trading for Connor Ingram to Noah Philp earning his spot, there are a handful of stories that popped up throughout the last few weeks that the boys may not have expected.

Changing gears, we did a deeper dive on the Oilers’ Connor Ingram trade and how it was a nice piece of work by Stan Bowman after so many people freaked out when the goalie passed through waivers. After clearing waivers, Stan Bowman turned around with a future considerations trade to land the goaltender at 40% retained from the Utah Mammoth, which added a valuable piece to the depth chart without having to pay anything to get it. The guys also discussed Kris Knoblauch signing a three-year extension with the Oilers, and how it is a well-deserved contract for one of the winningest coaches at this juncture in his NHL career.

Finally, we wrapped up the Friday episode of ONR with another round of Ask the Idiots, betting talk for our friends at bet365, and Hot and Cold Performers to look back on the week. With only a few days left to wait until the start of the 2025-26 season, the guys spent the bulk of the Friday episode discussing a range of topics, some related to the Oilers and others not, but that’s what happens at this stage of the pre-season.

Listen to the Friday episode of Oilersnation Radio below:

Subscribe to Oilersnation Radio for FREE on Soundcloud here, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you get your podcasts from!

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oilersnation-radio-one-more-oilers-pre-season-game-before-showtime

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Vasily Podkolzin makes pre-season debut, and Noah Philp’s window to stick with the Oilers

We made it, friends. Finally. After grinding through eight boring pre-season games, we’re only days away from the start of the 2025-26 season, when the Edmonton Oilers kick off their year with a Battle of Alberta against the Flames. I’m excited about it. But before we can get to Wednesday’s matchup against Calgary, we may as well talk about what happened last night against the Canucks. As always, I don’t care about the score until the games matter, so I decided to focus on Vasily Podkolzin’s return and how Noah Philp fared in the final tune-up game of the year.

WELCOME BACK, VASILY​

It was hard not to feel for Vasily Podkolzin as he played in his first pre-season game after the tragic passing of his father on the same day he signed his three-year extension. That’s an emotional rollercoaster that’s impossible to understand, and I felt for the kid as he’s now in a situation where he has to try and perform while still processing a terrible loss. That’s a big ask for anyone. And while I was certainly happy to see him back with the team, it’s hard not to think about the human side of the story. At the same time, maybe getting back on the ice with the boys and getting busy can help a little bit. All I know for sure is that I’m pulling for him and there are plenty of reasons you should be too.

Heading into the last year of his cheap. While we still don’t know how much offence he’s ever going to bring — I do think he has more in him than the eight goals he scored last season — you can never question his effort. The work he puts in on the forecheck is the kind of stuff that makes Leon Draisaitl love him as a linemate, and if we can just squeeze a quarter-turn more goals out of him to land in the 12–15 range, he’ll wind up as a middle-six weapon. He has a great shot and plenty of offensive instincts, and I’m banking on him taking another step forward with the offensive side of his game because of how much work he puts in.

We’ve all read the stories about him being the first to show up at the rink, and I truly believe he and the Oilers will start reaping the rewards of that effort sooner than later.

GREEN LIGHT FOR NOAH PHILP?​

A lot of the time around these parts, the pre-season has been about watching rookies get their first chance to play in an Oilers uniform and checking in on the veterans as they shake off the rust. But as I was watching Noah Philp do his thing against Vancouver last night, it got me thinking about where he fits heading into the 2025–26 season. He got into 15 games with the Oilers last year and chipped in with two assists while averaging just over nine minutes a night. He got his first boogie at the big dance, but ultimately spent most of his year in Bakersfield, where he put up 19 goals and 16 assists in 55 games. From what we’ve seen from him so far in camp, Philp looks like he’s ready to grab that 4C job full-time.

As much as the points he’s tacked on during the pre-season have been nice, the important part of the story is that he keeps looking good even as the competition gets stronger. Not only am I a sucker for his comeback story, but it would be a massive win for the team if he can be an everyday player at $775K on the cap. He’s big, he’s a right-handed centre, and he moves better than a lot of the guys we’ve seen cycle through the depth chart over the years, and I like that combo as the prototype for a fourth-line player. Nothing about his night against the Canucks changes the picture dramatically, but as I’m watching him, I find myself curious to see whether he can carve out a longer run this season. It feels like there’s a window for him, and the question is whether he can step through it.

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/vasily-podkolzin-returns-edmonton-oilers-noah-philps-window-stick-nhl

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Extension of Knoblauch’s contract an important sign of stability for Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have many personnel waiting to sign on the dotted line — not just Connor McDavid.

As we wait for information on the alleged Monday booking of the Hall of Fame room at Rogers Place, like people waited for Walter Cronkite to give us the latest on Watergate, head coach Kris Knoblauch’s job security was given an additional boost on Friday.

According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, Knoblauch and the Oilers agreed to a three-year extension, keeping him (theoretically) in Oil Country until 2028-29.

In terms of making a decision that requires little thinking, aka a “no-brainer”, this is chief among them.

Plus, it’s extremely rare for a coach to be in a lame duck situation where he has no contract beyond the current year, so again. It’s a no-brainer.

Where Kris Knoblauch ranks amongst the best coaches in the NHL, I don’t know. But I would wager he is in the top half at minimum and in the top-5 at best.

However, the pessimist in me can’t help but point out that the Oilers can’t MacGyver their way out of a bad start with their time-honoured tradition of dumping the coach. Print a Justice for Jay Woodcroft t-shirt, someone, please.

How’s this for a stat: If Knoblauch completes this regular season, his third season at the helm, he will already be fifth all-time in regular-season games coached in Edmonton Oilers history.

He is only outpaced by Glen Sather, Craig MacTavish, Ron Low, and Todd McLellan — and he’ll surpass McLellan in short order early in 2026-27.

An above .500 reg season would vault Knoblauch over Low and as the third winningest coach in Oilers history to boot.

My point? The Oilers go through head coaches like a Kardashian goes through plastic surgeons. They go through coaches like the City of Edmonton makes LRT adjustments. They’re like Donald Trump and tariffs, etc.

The Oilers have had 18 head coaches throughout their history, so a coaching change springs eternal like autumn leaves.

If the team struggles for any decent stretch of 10 games or more, the coach is on the hot seat, rightly or wrongly. Since Craig MacTavish, the carousel of one-and-done head coaches and firings to get a spark has been the go-to move for the organization.

Stability in this position, and a signal from the general manager that a momentum-shifting coach firing isn’t on the horizon, helps limit the noise in an already noisy year of contract renewals.

Remember the relationship with Connor McDavid. Remember that now Kris Knoblauch has his own staff in place. Remember that a coach extended beyond has more incentive to make roster decisions that keep the future in mind. That could bode well for Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard.

Again, no one was arguing he shouldn’t be extended, so the points in his favour are already accepted, but it’s another step in the process of the ultimate goal of the franchise heading into the season.

“Well, ehrm, actually, anyone could take the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same roster, herp derp.”

Well. They haven’t.

Nor should Knoblauch wonder in April about his fate beyond the season. The total mental focus is on the Stanley Cup.

Lock him up. In a good way, of course.

That way, if the Oilers start 2-7-1 in their first ten games, they’ll have to find another way besides firing the coach.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/exten...ract-important-sign-stability-edmonton-oilers

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Why Oilers’ Connor Ingram has more upside than you think

Behind Connor McDavid’s next contract, the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending is poised to be their biggest question mark for 2025-26. They will begin the upcoming season with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net, the goaltending tandem they have used over the past two years.

Given the inconsistency and variance of their performance, much ink has been spilled over whether Skinner and Pickard are truly sufficient for the Oilers to finally win the Stanley Cup. However, Edmonton recently made a move that I believe could significantly alter the outlook of their net-minding.

On October 1st, the Oilers traded for goaltender Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for future considerations. 50 percent of Ingram’s cap-hit is retained in this deal.

At first glance, this move may seem like a nothingburger. After all, Ingram had a dreadful save percentage of 0.882 in 22 games for Utah last season, and just prior to being traded to Edmonton, he was placed on waivers and went unclaimed. He is projected to begin the 2025-26 season with the Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate.

Nevertheless, I would strongly argue that Ingram has a lot more upside and potential than many think. In my mind, this is not just a depth move, but a move for a goalie that has a genuine chance to be a difference-maker in 2025-26. Let’s dive deeper into his career to see why.

Ingram was drafted 88th overall in the 3rd round of the 2016 NHL draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning, but his first two seasons in a full-time NHL role came with the Arizona Coyotes in 2022-23 and 2023-24. On the surface, his box score totals of a 0.907 SV% and a 3.08 GAA in those two seasons aren’t particularly impressive. Solid, for sure, but nothing to write home about, and certainly not an objective upgrade on Skinner or Pickard.

However, the problem with traditional stats like SV% and GAA is that they do not account for shot quality. SV% treats every shot – whether a weak wrister from the point or a 2-on-0 breakaway – as the same, and GAA fails to adjust for both shot volume and quality. This can cause goalies on teams with poor defending to rank much worse in these metrics compared to goalies behind much superior defence, even if their true abilities aren’t far off. This is especially the case for a goalie like Ingram who played for Arizona, a team that ranked 5th last in scoring chances allowed from 2022 through 2024.

That’s why I like to use stats such as GSAx (Goals Saved Above Expected) and HDSV% (High-Danger Shot Save Percentage). Unlike plain old SV%, GSAx weights every shot differently based on the quality of each shot, and HDSV% specifically includes dangerous shots in an attempt to level the playing field when comparing goalies. You can read more about the details of how GSAx is calculated right here. While these metrics are far from perfect and have some flaws of their own, they are considerably more reliable and fair than SV% and GAA at the very least.

And when using these more detailed metrics, Ingram ranks exceedingly well.

From 2022-23 through 2023-24, Connor Ingram had a +26.6 GSAx per EvolvingHockey. What this stat tells us is that, based on the volume and quality of the shots that Ingram faced, he saved about ~26-27 goals more than he was expected to. Or, to put it in another way, the Coyotes would have allowed about ~26-27 more goals if an average goalie was in place of Ingram.

Among all 114 goaltenders that faced a minimum of 50 shots in that span, Ingram ranked 10th in GSAx. That put him ahead of numerous notable names, such as Andrei Vasilevskiy, Thatcher Demko, and Sergei Bobrovsky just to name a few. Again, GSAx isn’t perfect, and should not be treated as the be-all-end-all, but this is certainly quite impressive.

Furthermore, per Natural Stat Trick, Ingram had a 5-on-5 save percentage of 0.845 on high-danger shots. Just to put that into perspective, Connor Hellebuyck – the 2023-24 Vezina winner – had a high-danger save percentage of 0.843 in that span. And yet again, this ranks higher than names like Vasilevskiy and Bobrovsky, and just behind Igor Shesterkin.

Notably, this ranks considerably higher than both Skinner and Pickard.

In the past three seasons, Skinner has a 0.818 save percentage on high-danger shots at 5-on-5. That places him 49th in the league. Skinner’s low-danger save percentage ranks at a very solid 13th in the NHL, but high-danger shots, specifically those off the rush and/or dangerous passes, are a significant weakness in his game, and this is clearly evident in the data. It’s a somewhat similar story with Pickard, who ranks 20th in low-danger save percentage but 55th in high-danger save percentage (0.814).

Fortunately, Ingram ranks quite well in this area where both of Edmonton’s main goalies struggle with, and Ingram has accomplished this behind a substantially worse defence. Not to mention, he also led all goalies in shutouts in 2023-24. All-in-all, his results from 2022-23 through 2023-24 are extremely encouraging.

But unfortunately, Ingram struggled mightily in 2024-25. This was evident in both the basic and advanced stats.

In 22 games with Utah in 2024-25, Ingram had a raw save percentage of just 0.882. His HDSV% dropped to 0.826, and in total, his GSAx was -6.9, meaning he allowed about 6-7 goals more than expected to. Not good at all, and it certainly poses a big question mark about his future performance.

That being said, it is important to acknowledge that Ingram faced several significant external challenges during the 2024-25 season.

Ingram sustained an upper-body injury in November 2024, sidelining him until mid-January. Then, on March 9, he entered the NHLPA’s Player Assistance Program following the passing of his mother.

This marked his second time in the program; Ingram had previously sought support in 2021 while battling obsessive-compulsive disorder, a period during which he nearly retired. His resilience and commitment to his career earned him the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2023-24. And so, while he did struggle in 2024-25, his off-ice challenges must be kept in mind.

Heading into 2025-26, Ingram is expected to begin the season with Bakersfield as he works to find his game before a potential NHL recall. As the underlying numbers from his previous two seasons point to a goaltender with real talent and upside, I believe Ingram could greatly benefit from a fresh start in Edmonton. This is a goalie could legitimately challenge both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard for an NHL role given his performance as a legit starter in 2023-24, and it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see him starting playoff games next spring for the Oilers.

All things considered, the Connor Ingram trade is a no-risk move with a potentially very high reward. I eagerly look forward to seeing how he performs.

*All stats via EvolvingHockey and Natural Stat Trick

Find me on Twitter (@NHL_Sid)

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Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-connor-ingram-more-upside-than-you-think

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Sunday Scramble: Don’t sign yet Lane Hutson, hate still exists in Florida, Gavin McKenna is box-office

My entire week has been a scramble of epic proportions – I’ve packed and now unpacked into my Pine Panelled Palace, been fighting a cold, made my Oilersnation video debut, and now, in between moments of inspired home decor, let’s talk some puck.

Don’t do it Lane​

When I read rumblings that Lane Hutson was in talks to extend on a contract that would be lower in AAV than Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe, I nearly spit out my Neocitran.

You mean Lane Hutson of Calder Trophy fame? Of 66 points in his rookie campaign, of sexiest young defenceman in the game, fame? That guy?

Sean Coffey represents Hutson. Lane, tell Coffey to relax here.

Luke Hughes and Jackson LaCombe just re-upped for $9 million this week. Let this sink in: Luke Hughes is the highest-paid Hughes brother.

Meanwhile, Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek, after picking a negotiation war with every forward he could, was in a huge hurry to hand LaCombe the largest contract in total dollars in Ducks history.

And you know what, at this moment, Hutson should never ever take less than them.

It’s not just about the points, but Hutson has already produced 23 points and 19 points more than LaCombe and Hughes’ career highs. It’s not just about value to the franchise – all three are in the long-term number one conversation for their franchises.

It’s about the salary cap that we’ve spent months discussing is rising like a tidal wave.

Kirill Kaprizov just signed the richest contract in NHL history (the balls on this guy I tell ya) at $17 million a year.

So let me ask you a question: for the next eight years, would you rather have Kirill Kaprizov or Lane Hutson?

The right answer is probably Kaprizov… but is it? Injury prone elite forward vs. rookie defenceman coming off of a spectacular season… man it’s tricky than you think.

Look, known commodities in the National Hockey League are hard to come by. Hutson is not that yet, having played 84 NHL regular season games.

But just take a peek at these all-time great names – plus a couple others – who are the only defenceman to win the Calder Trophy:

In order: Jacques Lapierre, Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Ray Bourque, Gary Suter, Brian Leetch, Bryan Berard, Barret Jackman, Tyler Myers, Aaron Ekblad, Cale Makar, and Moritz Seider.

I repeat: Orr, Potvin, Bourque, Makar…. (Barret Jackman?)

Of course the Montreal Canadiens are motivated to sign Hutson long-term. He could be sailing to $12-15 million in AAV with another wicked season under his belt.

The thing is, he doesn’t have the hammer.

As Elliotte Friedman pointed out, what made Kaprizov’s lucrative extension happen is that he had all the leverage. He could say with a straight face that $16 million per season was not good enough, and Bill Guerin cowered in fear. He was angry, but anxious. The Wild need to win a playoff round. Hence, “He f***ing better be [happy],” at the press conference.

Hutson doesn’t have arbitration or the ability to sign an offer sheet at the end of this season, nor for a while after. He does not have the hammer.

Montreal is gliding into the season as the sexy young team of the future, as they are anointed as Stanley Cup champs of 203_ . They are riding the wave of the playoff berth, were rolling in so much draft capital they dropped two first-round picks on Noah Dobson, and Kent Hughes is smartly trying to tidy Hutson for the long-term.

Noah Dobson makes $9.5 million and Kent Hughes signed that contract in acquiring him. If I’m Hutson, I’m not taking less than that by signing today.

Hutson could very well regress – the sophomore slump is a real thing and 66 points in a lofty defenceman point total (that was 7th best amongst defenceman last season, for instance).

But I would say, Lane, do not sign yet. Bet on yourself. It would be criminal if Hutson signs today for less than Jackson LaCombe, but an all-time win for Hughes and the Habs.

Speaking of Montreal as a whole…

Can I just see it first?​

I used to subscribe to the Hockey News, first given to me as a Christmas present by my grandparents. I still have the boxes of different magazines dating from 2010 to about 2016.

Many covers stick out to me, but I never forget in 2015 when the Future Watch issue featured the Winnipeg Jets and said “Meet Your 2019 Stanley Cup Champions.”

Spoiler: the Jets didn’t win the Cup in 2019, haven’t made the SCF, and have only once been to the Western Conference Final.

In fact, 2019 they lost in the first round to the eventual champs in the St. Louis Blues.

Fence-riding does not make for good copy, so I don’t slam The Hockey News.

I bring this up because the Montreal Canadiens glazing annoys me. The reason could be that I have a few Habs fans friends in my life and they are excited. They should be excited. The team is coming along.

But can we just pump the brakes? Or rather, I just want to see it first. I just want to see a season where they are in a playoff spot for most of the season, not go on a run post 4 Nations Faceoff (where their playoff chances were in the milk percentages) and get the last wildcard spot.

There’s so much to like with the Habs long-term. The excitement is not unwarranted. I just want to see it first.

And as a fan of a team that was in a perennial, seemingly never-ending rebuild, I can empathize with the excitement too. But now this edition of the team enters the season with real expectations. That comes with its own unique challenges.

I’m just saying, that if you told me the Edmonton Oilers after going to Game 7 of the second round against the Anaheim Ducks in 2017 would miss the playoffs the next two years, I would’ve said you’re full of shit.

Well, that’s what happened.

This Habs team is deeper all-around than that Oilers team, but my point applies. The NHL growth process today is not linear like days of yore, where you rebuilt, were in a bottom playoff spot, then became Titletown.

There is so much in-between that happens. One year and the next year a bit down, then a big shoot up, then a down in the playoffs, then a down regular season but a deep playoff run. You know what I mean? It’s not linear, step-by-step, nice growth curves. At least, less so like before.

Maybe I’m just tainted by arguing with Habs fans in my life that Sam Montembeault (sneakily not young and already 28) despite being a pretty good tendy, is not the second coming of Bill Durnan, and teasing them by saying their TSN show The Rebuild was extended for more seasons in November, and you get the point.

They’ll probably do really well. I’m a contrarian I guess.

Meaningful hate is good​

I worried this week I was going to have to stretch to fill Sunday column length, but I’ve just poured another bourbon and the words are flowing out of me…

Talk about hockey that gets beer-fuelled fans going.

The Battle of Florida resembles the great rivalries of the past, a legitimate hate that hockey thrives upon, in PRE-SEASON of all times.

The hate between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers is exactly what makes passionate hockey insurmountable as a spectacle. Especially because these two teams have appeared in the last six Stanley Cup Finals.

These aren’t irrelevant franchises, they are the gold standards.

Can you believe that in 2025 there’s still teams and players taking names, such brutal dislike that Tampa head coach Jon Cooper starts an AHL goon in Scott Sabourin in the last preseason game on Saturday to physically assault Aaron Ekblad?

You know what? Bleeding hearts are going to bleed, but when two of the league’s best franchises can’t stand to be in the same building as each other, it’s tremendous.

The carryover of last year’s brutal playoff series played out in the preseason, beginning Thursday when Panthers’ AJ Greer attacked Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. That game turned into a mini bloodbath, a mere 186 penalty minutes.

Analyst Pat Maroon called it “gutless” and said a response was coming on Saturday. It did.

How about a total of 65 penalties for 302 penalty minutes on Saturday night. A game so absurd that Niko Mikkola assisted on the 8-0 goal (Holy Dina Florida!) but he had already been kicked out.

For the sleepy lackadaisical preseason, two franchises are in fine form already. If these two were in Canadian markets, this would be wall-to-wall and we’d be eating it up.

How about some reporting​

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper also apparently re-signed “quietly” this off-season, according to Pierre Lebrun, believed to be signed now to the end of next season.

That’s quite weird the team didn’t announce it. In the summer malaise of no hockey news – particularly this off-season – surely they could’ve grabbed some attention and headlines.

But no outpouring on this one, we didn’t know about it until seemingly Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch signed.

Strange.

I theorized that Cooper and the Lightning might be heading for a breakup, not an ugly one, just one borne of necessity. They’d done everything they could do together. It was seemingly time. Maybe it still is and that’s why there was no press release.

Tampa Bay have been ousted in the first round for three straight years. Jon Cooper is one of the best coaches in the game. Great coaches move on.

The whole thing reeks a bit. Keep an eye on this one.

…And the only prescription is?​

Maybe the illness I have is Gavin McKenna fever.

The buzz around the 17-year-old slam-dunk no. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft next June was palpable in his NCAA debut with Penn State on Friday.

Arizona State fans booed every time he touched the puck. McKenna contributed with two assists. The game was broadcast for an international audience.

McKenna is box office. He scored his first NCAA goal on Saturday night as Penn swept the weekend against ASU.

Who’s going to tank for this guy? Not enough teams.

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/sunda...exists-in-florida-gavin-mckenna-is-box-office

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers reportedly sign Jake Walman to seven-year contract extension

From now on, October 6 will be known as Extension Day in Oil Country.

Right around when Connor McDavid announced on social media that he would be staying in Edmonton on a new contract, word came out that Jake Walman was nearing a long-term deal with the Oilers.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the defender is nearing a seven-year contract worth $7 million annually.

This is not the only piece of business Edmonton is doing today

Hearing the Oilers are also closing in on a 7x7M extension with the Pride of Armour Heights, Jake Walman

Big day for them

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 6, 2025

The Oilers acquired Walman from the San Jose Sharks ahead of last season’s trade deadline in exchange for the team’s first-round pick in the 2026 draft and minor-leaguer Carl Berglund.

The puck-moving defender fit in nicely on Edmonton’s blueline, scoring eight points in 15 regular-season games while logging 21:26 per night. In his first real taste of NHL playoff action in the spring, Walman scored 10 points with a plus-nine rating over 22 games for the Oilers.

Selected by the Blues in the third round of the 2014 draft, Walman played three seasons with Providence College and four in the American Hockey League before breaking through with St. Louis during the latter part of the 2021-22 season. The following year, as Walman was establishing himself as an NHL defender, he was moved to Detroit in exchange for veteran Nick Leddy.

Walman took on a larger role with the rebuilding Red Wings, and his ice time and production both increased. During his first full season with the club in 2022-23, the Toronto native signed a three-year extension worth $3.4 million annually.

After setting a career-high with 12 goals and 21 points in 2023-24, Detroit surprisingly traded Walman to San Jose along with a draft pick for future considerations. With the Sharks, Walman again took on a larger role, scoring 32 points over 50 games while averaging 23:11 per night before getting flipped to Edmonton.

During his 15 regular-season games and 22 playoff games with the Oilers, Walman showed that he’s a versatile defender capable of playing with different partners. He moves the puck effectively, can comfortably play both the left and right sides, and contributes at both ends of the ice.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, Walman figures to play on the right side of the second defensive pairing alongside Darnell Nurse. Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard have been the top pairing in Edmonton for the past few years, but we could see Walman take on top-pairing minutes if the 35-year-old Ekholm needs to be moved down the depth chart.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmonton-oilers-jake-walman-contract-extension-seven-years

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers’ McDavid and Draisaitl among favourites to win NHL Awards this season

With the 2025-26 National Hockey League season set to get underway on Tuesday night, many are making their predictions for what will come to be this year.

On Monday, Daily Faceoff released its staff’s predictions for who will take home trophies at this season’s NHL Awards. While there are many other favorites for the Hart and Rocket Richard Trophies – Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews – a couple of familiar faces are also in the running to win some individual hardware.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and fellow scoring star Leon Draisaitl are among the favorites for a few awards, most notably the offensive ones.

McDavid was voted to win the Hart Trophy by three of DFO’s staff, with The Sheet host Jeff Marek tabbing Draisaitl to be named league MVP for the second time in his career, and first since the 2019-20 campaign. McDavid is a three-time Hart Trophy winner, last taking home the award in 2023.

Unsurprisingly, Drasaitl was a huge favorite for the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. After being the only player to reach 50 goals last season, the German sniper has great odds of scoring the most goals in the NHL once again. He has hit the 50-goal mark four times in 11 seasons with the Oilers.

An outlier in the Rocket Richard picks is Oilers Nation Everyday host Tyler Yaremchuk. He believes McDavid has what it takes to score the most goals this season, something he did back in the 2022-23 season, when he scored a career-high 64 goals.

The hotly contested battle between the two superstars comes in the Art Ross conversation. Of the 10 DFO staff members who voted, seven picked McDavid to reclaim the scoring title, while Marek, on his lonesome, believes Draisaitl will finish with the most points this season. Marek has Draisaitl winning the Hart, Rocket Richard and Art Ross trophies.

Obviously, these prognostications are fun, and it’s way too early to tell where the chips will fall once the puck drops. However, there seems to be little doubt that McDavid and Draisaitl still have the utmost respect in circles around the game.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmon...eon-draisaitl-among-favourites-win-nhl-awards

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Hyman placed on LTIR, Tomášek and Howard recalled as Oilers continue pre-season roster shuffle

On Tuesday, the Edmonton Oilers announced they have placed Zach Hyman on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), while forwards David Tomášek and Isaac Howard have been recalled from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. As was expected with these moves, forward James Hamblin has been returned to Bakersfield.

The team shared on Monday that they had loaned Tomášek and Howard to the Condors, recalling forward Hamblin from the minors and placing Mattias Janmark on IR in the process. While the move sparked some confusion, they were simple paper transactions with the purpose of remaining cap compliant, which PuckPedia broke down as follows:

– Tomášek & Howard down, Janmark IR
– Call up $775K guy unlikely to be on team (like Hamblin)
– Have $834 cap space & submit opening roster
– Add Hyman to LTIR, able to exceed cap by $3.8M ($834 away from optimal)
– By Wed (Day 2 for cap purposes), call up Tomášek/Howard, send down extra $775K guy
– Have $1.8M Cap Space remaining in LTIR

Indeed, with Tomášek and Howard back in Edmonton and Hamblin in the AHL, we are right on track with that schedule. Now that the Oilers have completed their complex roster moves, they can ice the players they want on opening night.

Signed on a one-year, $1.2 million contract, Tomášek will look to prove his worth to Edmonton’s bottom six this season in his rookie year. At 29 years old, the undrafted Czech skater is set to make his NHL debut Wednesday after playing in Europe up to this point in his career.

Howard has been one of the team’s most anticipated prospects since being acquired in the summer, and will look to carve a meaningful role with the team to start the year, debuting alongside fellow top prospect Matt Savoie. Completing his time in college last year, Howard is set to begin his entry-level contract this season, with an annual cap hit of $925k over the next three years.

In Bakersfield, Hamblin will continue to wear the ‘A’ as the team’s assistant captain. Last season, he had 19 goals and 45 points in 51 games played with the Condors. The 26-year-old Edmonton native played 41 games with the Oilers from 2022-2024, with two goals and an assist.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmon...yman-ltir-david-tomasek-isaac-howard-recalled

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers sign Mattias Ekholm to three-year extension

The Edmonton Oilers announced via their social channels Wednesday morning that the team has signed defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $4 million.

Ekholm, 35, is entering his third full season in Edmonton — and the final year of the four-year deal he signed with the Preds — after being acquired from the Nashville Predators at the 2023 trade deadline in exchange for Tyson Barrie and Reid Schaefer+. Since landing in our fair city, Ekholm has provided the Oilers with exactly what they needed — stability on the blue line, leadership in the room, and consistent play in all situations. They needed a minute muncher, and that’s Mattias Ekholm.

Despite battling injuries during the 2024–25 campaign that limited his effectiveness in the playoffs, Ekholm appeared in 65 games, registering nine goals and 24 assists for 33 points along with a +11 rating. It was the first time in his tenure with us that Ekholm wasn’t a rock on the back end, and it was weird to watch him fight it that much. So when we heard that Ekholm wanted to extend in Edmonton, the question wasn’t about whether we wanted him, but rather how much term the team would give a guy who is still a very important piece — but one who is getting older.

Ekholm’s new deal will carry him through his age-39 season, which tells me the team not only thinks he’s part of the short-term solution but also wanted to acknowledge the security he was craving for his family by giving him three years. Both sides wanted each other, and you can tell by the details in the announcement. Ekholm took roughly 30 percent less than his last contract to fit within the cap model Stan Bowman has available, and the team probably gave him a year more than they initially planned. That’s compromise, my friends.

At 6’5” and 225 pounds, Ekholm has become a cornerstone presence on Edmonton’s back end, and I’m happy this extension will keep Big Viking Daddy patrolling the blue line for years to come. He’s the kind of veteran who makes everyone around him better, and locking him in for three more years provides the Oilers with continuity, leadership, and a proven defender who’s embraced the city and the organization since day one. Now the hope is that he was able to get healthy over the summer and get back to being the guy who we can depend on regardless of when or where he is on the ice.

Over his 12-year career, the Borlänge, Sweden native has suited up in 884 NHL games, recording 86 goals and 274 assists for 360 points and an impressive +187 rating.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-sign-mattias-ekholm-to-three-year-extension

 

[Edmonton Oilers]

Oilers squander lead, drop season-opener to Flames: Recap, Highlights, and Reaction

That’s not a great way to open the season.

On Wednesday night, the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Calgary Flames for the season opener, blowing a 3-0 lead and losing 4-3 in a shootout to begin the season 0-0-1. Let’s take a look at what went on in this one.

The Oilers’ first goal of the season came midway through the first period on a power play. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was the goal scorer, as he finished off a pretty passing play by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Nuge season starts now #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/hi3u0rfyjc

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 9, 2025

With just under four minutes remaining in the first period, the Oilers extended their lead to two. This time, it was former Flame Andrew Mangiapane scoring his first as an Oiler, as he won a key puck battle and eventually received the puck in the faceoff dot. He made no mistake beating Dustin Wolf for a 2-0 lead.

Fresh Bread #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/qZePCRsh09

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 9, 2025

The Oilers were firing on all cylinders midway through the second period, taking a 3-0 lead thanks to Leon Draisaitl scoring from his office on the power play. This was his 400th career goal, while David Tomášek picked up his first NHL point.

burgers flipped #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/2wdDKD0WOU

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 9, 2025

Finally, the Flames showed signs of life with just over eight minutes left in the second period, as Matvei Gridin’s blind pass took an unfortunate bounce off Noah Philp and past Stuart Skinner. Just over two minutes later, Connor Zary knocked down a puck around the crossbar to cut the lead to one.

That hand-eye tho. pic.twitter.com/Dwgu1KOp7h

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 9, 2025

The Flames tied the game in the first minute of the third period, as a shot from centre ice wasn’t handled well by Stuart Skinner, allowing Blake Coleman to poke it home. There were no more goals in regulation, nor in overtime. In the end, the Flames won in the eighth round of the shootout.

Pounced on it pic.twitter.com/ZWPYWAKrC1

— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) October 9, 2025

Takeaways…​

This was the first time in franchise history that the Oilers lost a season opener in overtime or a shootout. They’ve won a handful in a shootout and even tied some games when those were a thing, but this was their first defeat after regulation in a season opener.

It’s also the third consecutive season that the Oilers dropped the opener. While it wasn’t an 8-1 score like in 2023-24 or a 6-0 score like in 2024-25, they blew a 3-0 lead and didn’t look like the same team in the second half of the game. They took their foot off the gas, and they paid for it.

So far this season, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has been involved in every single Oilers goal, scoring the first goal of the season before assisting on the Oilers’ other two goals. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl had two points each, while Andrew Mangiapane scored his first goal as an Oiler and David Tomášek picked up his first point in the National Hockey League.

Tomášek was rather noticeable in his NHL debut, picking up an assist on a nifty pass. On the other hand, it was a quiet debut for Ike Howard, as he played just 10:43. Matthew Savoie had a rather quiet game as well.

It was a rough game for Stuart Skinner, allowing three goals on 22 shots for an .864 save percentage. There wasn’t much he could’ve done on the first goal, and the second Flames’ goal shouldn’t have counted, but the third goal was inexcusable. That said, he performed well in the shootout, saving six of eight shots.

The Oilers play their second game of the season on Saturday at 8:00 PM MT, as they host the Vancouver Canucks.

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Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365​

Source: https://oilersnation.com/news/edmon...-calgary-flames-recap-highlights-and-reaction