The Oilers spent their latest preseason night looking far less like a team waiting to crack and a lot more like one with some structure to it.
That’s not a declaration that anything is settled - it’s still preseason, and this wasn’t a normal one at that - but there was enough here to make a real case that Mike Babcock’s group is heading in the right direction. The goaltending looked strong, the defense had shape, and the forwards kept their feet moving. This wasn’t a team standing around and hoping things worked out.
What stood out most was how much cleaner the whole thing looked from the blue line back. There was very little chaos, and when a few passes did slip into dangerous spots, the coverage usually erased the problem.
Connor Murphy had a couple of moments where it looked like he might not get to the puck in time, but that kind of thing comes with a player-type like his age. Overall, the mistakes were limited.
Babcock also mixed up his lines more than usual, and that seemed to say something about where he’s at with this group. He trusted Michaels on two different lines, which suggests he’s comfortable enough now to lean into his own instincts instead of constantly protecting against a weak link.
Whether Michaels is that weak link or not, he’s still a brand new pro. Babcock was clearly looking for whatever he could get without engine overheat.
Fun times.
The numbers backed up the eye test. Connor McDavid had six shots, with five high dangers.
Vasily Podkolzin had three high dangers. Michaels had two.
Alex Formenton, Nuge, Zach Hyman and Ike Howard all also generated high-danger chances. That’s a lot of useful work from a lot of different players in one game.
Kasperi Kapanen may have helped himself more than anyone else. Based on this showing, he could have moved up several spots on the depth chart and even put himself in line for a second-line role on opening night.
The other major piece was Devon Levi, who stopped 23 of 24 shots for a .958 save percentage. Goaltending hasn’t been the loudest storyline, but it may be the biggest one. Levi could end up solving a lot of problems.
Now the Oilers move into waiver-wire day, and maybe decision day too. Owen Michaels versus Josh Samanski, or does management make a deal? That part is still coming.
In Other News...
Red Wings Face Growing Pressure In Dylan Larkin Trade Talks
Carson Soucys professional tryout with the Columbus Blue Jackets is starting to look less like a camp storyline and more like a practical solution, with injuries thinning out the defense and coach Rick Bowness already praising what he has seen. Around the league, the rumor mill is busy in a few different directions, from Kirill Marchenkos name coming up in connection with the Toronto Maple Leafs to Edmonton showing interest in Kirby Dach, a reminder that front offices are still sorting through options while camps get underway.
For the Oilers, the Dach chatter is the one to watch because it fits a team that is still looking for another move-up-the-middle possibility, even as the market remains fluid. And while Detroit is drawing plenty of attention in its own Dylan Larkin trade talks, with multiple teams involved and some offers already turned away, Edmontons pursuit of help at center could end up being shaped as much by how those talks evolve as by anything the Oilers can do on their own. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Opening Night Roster Battle Just Sent A Clear Message
The Oilers opening-night roster picture is already taking shape, and the clearest early winner from camp has been Owen Michaels. Edmonton kept Michaels with the NHL group for the season opener after he outperformed expectations in camp and showed the kind of dependable two-way game that coaches trust when the games start to count. It is another sign that this roster is still being sorted with performance and injuries both shaping the conversation.
Josh Samanski, meanwhile, is headed to Bakersfield as the Oilers continue trimming the group and setting roles for the start of the season. Dave Babcock pointed to the areas Samanski still has to clean up before he can work his way back, with the organization looking for more consistency in the defensive end and at key detail spots that matter in close games. The move leaves Edmonton with a clearer sense of who has earned the first chance, even as the bottom of the roster remains very much a work in progress. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Final Cuts Leave Fans Watching One Opening Night Choice
The Oilers have trimmed their group down to 23 players for the season opener against the Vancouver Canucks, and the final roster decisions came with a few clues about how the coaching staff sees the first night unfolding. Edmonton also laid out its expected forward and defensive pairings, giving fans a clearer picture of the lineup shape as the regular season gets underway.
There was movement at the edges of the roster, with Josh Samanski heading to Bakersfield in the AHL while Owen Michaels remains with the club for opening night. Mike Babcock also confirmed the goaltending plan for the opener, adding another layer to a roster picture that now looks set, even if a few of the choices at the margins will keep drawing attention until puck drop. [Read more 🡒]