The Edmonton Oilers’ latest injury wrinkle landed on Friday when Devon Levi did not take part in practice, leaving his availability uncertain and adding another layer of turbulence to a team that has already been shuffling pieces around. The club has not said what the issue is, or how long Levi might be sidelined, but the absence alone is a problem for a goalie who has been outstanding since arriving and a major factor in Edmonton’s 8-1-1 start.
Mike Babcock said Tristan Jarry will get the net Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Edmonton also plans to bring in a goalie to back him up, and Bob Stauffer said that player is likely Matt Tomkins, though he noted that was his assumption rather than a confirmed transaction.
The Oilers’ goaltending situation is only part of the uncertainty. Mattias Ekholm is out with a concussion after his head slammed hard into the ice in Thursday’s game, and the team will also call up a defenceman.
Friday’s practice gave a clearer look at how Edmonton may line up around those absences and adjustments. Shakir Mukhamadullin moved from the press box to the top pairing with Evan Bouchard, while the forward group saw Trent Frederic and Ike Howard removed from the fourth line. Max Jones and Filip Hallander replaced them beside Colton Dach.
The projected lines and pairings from practice were:
Podkolzin-McDavid-Draisaitl
Kapanen-Nugent-Hopkins-Hyman
Formenton-Michaels-Joseph
Jones-Dach-Hallander
Extras: Howard, Frederic
Mukhamadullin-Bouchard
Shea-Murphy
Walman-Emberson
Extra: Dickinson
Jarry was already expected to start Saturday, but Levi’s status changes the conversation if the absence stretches beyond a short-term issue. He has played so well that he’s arguably already pushed for the starting job, while Jarry, despite a better season than last, still has to prove he can sustain that improved form.
In Other News...
Leafs Suddenly Face New Pressure In The East And A Blue-Line Opening
The Eastern Conference picture just got a lot tighter for the Maple Leafs after New Jersey landed Connor Hellebuyck in a move aimed squarely at raising the Devils ceiling. For Toronto, it is the kind of development that matters beyond the standings page, because any roster upgrade from a direct conference rival can shift the pressure on everyone else trying to keep pace.
It also comes at a time when the Leafs are still scanning the blue line for help, and New Jersey happens to have a defender who fits the kind of profile Toronto has been exploring. Brenden Dillons situation stands out because of the Devils financial and roster considerations, which is why he has surfaced as a name to watch if Toronto decides to make a push on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Finally Know The Real Cost Of The Maccelli Trade
Matias Maccellis move to Toronto has now come with its final price tag, and it is a more manageable one than it could have been when the deal was first made. The trade with Utah has been settled, giving the Maple Leafs clarity on the asset they are surrendering and closing the book on the conditional pick attached to the winger.
The original structure left Toronto exposed to a much steeper cost if everything broke a certain way, with team success and Maccelli production both baked into the return. Since those benchmarks were not reached, Utah will get the lower-end selection instead, leaving the Leafs with a cleaner accounting of what the transaction ultimately amounted to. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Have Become The Standard For The Leafs' Biggest Identity Test
A recent look at the NHLs top-heavy offenses put Toronto in familiar company, with the Maple Leafs and Oilers sitting near the top of the league in points production from their best five players. Edmonton remains the benchmark, built on a relentless attack that can tilt a game in a hurry, while Torontos version is a little different, spreading the offense around and leaning on balance as much as star power.
For the Leafs, that comparison matters because it speaks directly to the identity question that follows this team every season: can they keep pushing the pace and keep opponents under pressure the way the elite teams do? Their recent game against Columbus offered a reminder of how dangerous that style can look when its working, with wave after wave of offense creating the kind of tempo Toronto wants to make a habit rather than a highlight. [Read more 🡒]