The Oilers’ latest stretch of business around the roster, the radio booth and even the team’s digital footprint all circles back to one simple idea: make the best players better, and the whole operation gets stronger.
That theme showed up again in a 5-2 home win over Winnipeg on Saturday night, where Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl all turned in strong performances. Bouchard finished with four assists and looked calm throughout, while McDavid and Draisaitl were every bit as effective in the win.
Bouchard’s night also fit neatly with another development around the club: he has been added to the Oilers’ leadership group as an alternate captain. Zach Hyman will also wear an “A.”
Bouchard had already shown those traits in junior, where he was captain of his team, and the move reflects the kind of presence he brings now. The letter suits him.
The game itself also produced a few notable individual performances beyond Edmonton’s top names. Ryan Shea, who was the game’s First Star with a 1-2-3 line, played on the first pairing without showing any panic.
Alex Formenton was named Second Star after scoring and bringing elite-level speed, while also handling his two-way responsibilities well. The caveat, though, is clear enough: all of that came against AHL+ level competition, so there is no reason to overstate it.
Still, it was encouraging.
Elsewhere on the roster front, Curtis Lazar was one of the players some thought the Oilers might bring back. That did not happen, and according to multiple sources, Lazar has signed in the Swiss Pro League instead.
There is also a new off-ice move from the organization: the Oilers have launched a brand-new app. I downloaded it on Saturday, and it is set up as a one-stop hub for Oilers content.
It is easy to move through, visually sharp and designed to pull everything into one place. From a business standpoint, it also makes sense to centralize audience data and revenue in one spot.
One of the more interesting stories connected to the wider hockey world right now is Devon Levi’s new mask. Goalie masks are part equipment, part canvas, and Levi’s design carries a special tribute. Before he was even an Oiler, he had the chance to spend time with Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr, and now his mask pays homage to one of the best goaltenders the game has ever seen.
The organization’s media setup has also drawn a reaction, specifically the way Bob Stauffer’s 880 CHED radio show is being formatted. That program has become a must-listen across the NHL and draws huge podcast numbers, but the concern is that the current setup adds more interruption and cuts into the time listeners want with the club insider they tune in for every day.
And then there is the contract conversation, which is never far from the Oilers. With bigger deals being handed out around the league, the pressure is building for Edmonton to lock up Matt Savoie.
Some fans are still stinging from the Broberg and Holloway offer sheets, and that reaction is understandable. But the market is hot, and when the league gets like this, teams have to think carefully about timing and priorities.
The Oilers already lived through one such stretch when they handed Darnell Nurse the deal that followed a rush on defensemen. The next major decision will come for another player whose contract is due on July 1, 2027, and if the organization is mapping out its priorities, that is where the focus has to begin.
In Other News...
Canucks Suddenly Have Two Roster Battles Fans Need To Watch
The Canucks opened the preseason with a 4-2 loss to the Kraken, but there was still some useful evidence for the coaching staff to sort through. Goalie Nikita Tolopilo and forward Braeden Cootes both turned in encouraging showings, and each one entered camp with a clear opportunity to make himself harder to ignore.
Tolopilos path matters because the backup goalie picture is unsettled with Thatcher Demkos availability still a question, leaving a real opening behind the starter. Cootes, meanwhile, is trying to push his way onto the NHL roster by forcing the issue with his play, and early preseason performances like this are exactly the kind that can shape the next round of decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Just Rewarded A Leader This Organization Clearly Values
Chase Wouters has long been more than a depth center in the Vancouver Canucks system. As captain of the Abbotsford Canucks, he has built a reputation as one of the organizations most trusted voices, a player praised for what he brings on the ice and for the example he sets off it. His resume already includes four AHL Man of the Year honors, along with a leading role in Abbotsfords Calder Cup championship run.
Now the Canucks have rewarded that kind of value with a two-way NHL contract, giving the organization added flexibility while keeping Wouters in a familiar leadership role. It means Vancouver can call on him when needed, but it also leaves him right where the club has leaned on him most, helping guide younger players in Abbotsford while continuing to be the steady presence the team clearly believes in. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Are Putting Luke Schenn In A Very Familiar Role
Luke Schenn is back in a role that should look familiar to Canucks fans, lining up next to a young defenceman at training camp while bringing the steady, veteran edge the team has long valued from him. This time the partner is Zeev Buium, and the setup fits a pattern Vancouver has leaned on before: let Schenn handle the heavier defensive work while the younger blueliner gets room to grow.
For Buium, the pairing comes at an important moment after signing a long-term extension with the Canucks, a sign the organization sees him as part of its future on the back end. The hope now is that Schenns experience can help smooth the transition as Buium develops offensively, and training camp is giving the Canucks a first look at how that balance might work once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]