When you get past Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson, the Oilers’ centre picture gets a lot less certain in a hurry.
That’s the tension heading into camp for Edmonton, even with a top-end group at the position that most teams would envy. McDavid and Draisaitl are the headliners, Dickinson was acquired and then signed at the trade deadline, and new coach Mike Babcock is expected to use McDavid and Draisaitl together at times five-on-five. That setup points toward a roster built with five centres and eight wingers to begin the season.
The problem is what comes next.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a valuable two-way forward, but last season he spent more time on left wing than at any point in his 15-year NHL career. He also took almost 200 fewer faceoffs than the year before, and his 363 faceoffs were his lowest total in a full season outside of injury and the pandemic. When he was in the middle and away from McDavid and Draisaitl, his lines were heavily outscored and didn’t have enough punch.
Babcock could try to squeeze more offense out of the wings around Nugent-Hopkins, and Nugent-Hopkins still brought value in other areas. Away from McDavid and Draisaitl, he allowed 2.47 goals against per 60 at five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick. But the source of offence issue is real, and it’s not a move Edmonton should bank on working cleanly.
Behind the established NHL trio, the Oilers are looking at a mix of hopefuls and possible recalls.
Josh Samanski is one of the more intriguing names. The rookie played 24 NHL games last season, logged 52 minutes against elites and finished with a 55 percent goal share at five-on-five.
He took 108 faceoffs and won 49 percent of them. The offense wasn’t loud - his five-on-five points-per-60 was 1.00 - and there’s no guarantee he makes the big club this fall.
Still, his two-way game stood out, and he was regularly making the right play in Edmonton.
Trent Frederic is another player who could factor into the conversation. He’s a winger who can handle centre duties, and his 57 percent faceoff rate in 153 five-on-five faceoffs last season ranked second among regular Oilers players, behind only Curtis Lazar.
Frederic also played 176 minutes against elites, but his overall goal share was just 33 percent. If he can recover and help his line finish better, he could become a major story.
There’s also some history here. The article points to Craig MacTavish’s first season as head coach in 2000-01, when he gave Shawn Horcoff, Mike Comrie, Domenic Pittis and Brian Swanson a look.
Horcoff, a fourth-round pick in 1998, quickly emerged as a two-way player. Babcock may be hoping to uncover something similar, even if the next version comes at a lower level.
That’s where Bakersfield comes in.
The Condors could send Samanski down to start the season, and he’d be a meaningful recall option if Edmonton needs help later. Viljami Marjala is another name to watch after posting 60 points in 72 games last year, including 43 assists that led Bakersfield centres. He struggled defensively in the first half of the AHL season at even strength, then improved after the break and could earn an NHL look later this year.
William Nicholl also fits into the picture. He impressed in a five-game Bakersfield stint at the end of last season, brings speed and checking ability, and had above-average offence in junior. If he pushes his AHL game forward, he could be in the mix over the life of his three-year entry deal.
And then there’s Owen Michaels, maybe the most interesting centre in the system right now. He’s a right-handed centre out of Western Michigan with plus foot speed, two-way instincts and some offensive touch.
Among the signed centres mentioned here, he’s the only right-handed pure centre in the organization. That matters, because it gives him a clearer path if he can handle AHL competition quickly.
For now, the most likely opening-night setup still looks straightforward: McDavid, Draisaitl, Dickinson and one of several options for the No. 4 centre role. Frederic could be the best fit there, while Samanski may benefit from more seasoning in the AHL.
Beyond that, the Oilers are staring at a future that feels increasingly tied to Michaels. His contract tells part of the story: he makes $900,000 while in the NHL in both seasons, his AHL salary in 2026-27 is $225,000, and then it rises to $900,000 by year two. That strongly suggests general manager Stan Bowman sees a path for him to be in the NHL by October 2027.
So yes, Edmonton has real depth at centre at the top. After that, it’s a mix of possibilities rather than guarantees.
Fans have every reason to ask questions about the position behind McDavid, Draisaitl and Dickinson. The Oilers may still need to make a move if the market demands it.
But the fact they haven’t rushed to add a right-handed centre also hints that Michaels might be closer than he looks.
The next wave at the position may be arriving sooner than expected.
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