Samuel Jonsson is making his case the hard way, one league at a time.
The goalie prospect has been a name worth watching since Edmonton drafted him, and the last three seasons have only strengthened that view. Jonsson has put together strong results in three straight years, each one in a different league: 2024-25 with 24 games and a .922 save percentage in Allsvenskan, where he was goalie of the year; 2025-26 with 33 games and a .910 save percentage in the ECHL; and now 2026-27, where he has opened with four AHL games and a .932 save percentage.
He took a 4-2 loss last night, but the performance was still a solid one. In his four games with the Bakersfield Condors, his save percentages have been 1.000, .919, .933 and .932.
If he can put together a strong AHL season, Jonsson looks positioned for an NHL audition. He’s big, he’s developed since draft day, and he has a chance.
Meanwhile, Mike Babcock was busy at practice yesterday, tweaking the lines as Edmonton keeps searching for combinations with chemistry. The top unit has been the runaway showpiece so far, producing 5.67 goals for per 60 and 1.62 goals against per 60. It has been lightning in a bottle every night, with McDavid, Draisaitl and Podkolzin driving play at a level that has made the group look almost impossible to handle.
The second line of Nuge-Hyman-Kapanen has not found the net yet, though it is closing in on 50 minutes together. The sample is still too small to make a real judgment, but the group clearly needs a driver.
That said, the Nuge, Colton Dach and Kapanen line has shown more success, even with less flash. In 53 minutes, it has posted a 5.67 GF-60, a 2.27 GA-60 and a 71 percent goal share, with an expected goal share of 59 percent.
Babcock’s new third line has Jason Dickinson centering Colton Dach and Trent Frederic, and the early numbers are encouraging in a limited sample. The trio has spent 15 minutes together, mostly from last year, and the underlying results have been good. Dach and Frederic, in particular, bring a familiar look after finishing last season alongside Josh Samanski, and Frederic will need to bring pace tonight against the Flyers.
That matchup should have some edge to it. The Oilers and Flyers are rarely dull, and this one has the feel of a spirited game.
Edmonton’s start has been outstanding. I had the team at 13-5-2 through 20, but Babcock’s group has already banked more points, with tonight’s result still unknown. It’s been a strong opening run.
Today also falls on Remembrance Day, a time to honour those who fought in defense of our country, including the many who died doing so. It is also a day to thank the military members who stand on guard for our way of life.
We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We hold their memory in our hearts.
Lest we forget.
In Other News...
Connor Murphy Is Giving The Oilers Something They Desperately Need
Connor Murphy has carved out a very specific job for the Oilers this season, and it is the kind of role that does not always show up neatly in the numbers. Through the 2026-27 campaign, he has been leaned on for a physical, defense-first presence, taking tough defensive-zone assignments and giving Edmonton a steadier edge around its own net. Even with the traditional and advanced stats not exactly jumping off the page, his value has been tied to the little things that matter in tight games.
Recent matchups with the Canucks and Rangers offered a reminder of why the Oilers keep finding ways to use him. Murphys shot-blocking, willingness to clear traffic and general grit have stood out in moments when Edmonton needed a stop more than a highlight. It is the kind of impact analytics can struggle to fully capture, but the coaching staff and teammates can see it every night, and that sort of reliability is becoming increasingly important as the games get heavier. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Fans Just Earned A Wild Online Reputation
A new social-media study has given Oilers fans an unexpected kind of bragging right, even if it is the sort that comes with a raised eyebrow. Action Network looked at more than 9.7 million Reddit comments across 205 professional sports team communities in 2026, measuring how often fans used profanity, and Edmonton came out on top in a field that stretched across multiple major leagues.
The results put the Oilers crowd in some familiar company, with other passionate fan bases from around the sports world showing up near the top as well. At the other end of the spectrum, the St. Louis Cardinals were identified as the most polite fan base, a reminder that not every online home for a team is built on the same level of intensity. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Suddenly Have A Bigger Problem Than Their Recent Slide
The Maple Leafs recent slide already had plenty of people looking for answers, and now the injury report is adding another layer of concern. Colton Sissons is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Morgan Rielly is day-to-day after getting hurt in the loss to Montreal. Kirill Marchenko also remains week-to-week with a lower-body injury, leaving Toronto to juggle its lineup a little more than it would like at this point in the season.
Ryan Tverberg was recalled from the AHL as part of the roster shuffle, with Vinni Lettieri sent down, a move that at least gives Toronto another body as it tries to steady itself. Sergei Bobrovsky is scheduled to start in net for the upcoming game, but the bigger question for the Leafs is how long they can keep absorbing absences before the standings start to reflect the damage. [Read more 🡒]