The Edmonton Oilers are not in a cap crunch, do not need to worry about running a 21- or 22-man roster, and have the freedom to construct a balanced roster with layers of options. Nice place to be. Please read this.
LAST YEAR’S CERTAIN OILERS (16)
The three centers were there opening night, both goalies dressed. Zach Hyman did not play, the rest of the wingers dressed. All of the blue save Jake Walman (who was on the team but didn’t play opening night) jumped over the boards for the first game of the season on October 8, 2025.
Players who were not rated as certain (my original list is from August 6, 2025) included Matt Savoie, Ty Emberson, Noah Philp, Ike Howard, Alec Regula and David Tomasek. Scratches opening night included Walman, Troy Stecher and Curtis Lazar. Opening night lineup for 2025-26 is here.
THIS YEAR’S CERTAIN OILERS (19)
Center: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson
Wingers: Zach Hyman, Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Kasperi Kapanen, Trent Frederic, Colton Dach
Defense: Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Shea, Connor Murphy, Jake Walman, Ty Emberson
Goal: Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi
I count 19 certain Oilers at this time. Among those we will have to see about are Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, Alec Regula, Mathieu Joseph, Mattias Janmark, Ike Howard, Josh Samanski, Quinn Hutson and Max Jones.
My guess is the final four are Mukhamadullin, Ike Howard, Josh Samanski and Mathieu Joseph. Put Mattias Janmark on injured reserve or waivers, the rest are flying to Bakersfield.
Is this a Stanley Cup winner? I think it’s shy.
Stan Bowman has from now to the deadline to find answers, and of course he’ll need to see how well the summer tweaks perform during the regular season. I think the club needs to steal a player though. Something like Kent Nilsson from the Minnesota North Stars 49 years ago, or Dustin Penner from the Anaheim Ducks a decade back
Will the team lose a player to waivers? I’ll say a defenseman gets taken by another NHL team, and maybe a pre-season trade to get something in return for a waiver worry.
Florida won the cup with Lundell as 3c.
He had 13 goals 22 assists in the first cup year regular season and in my mind was a very good 3c.
Samanski is slightly bigger. Slightly faster. Defensively responsible. With good wingers have a comparable year? I don’t think it’s much of a stretch.
”Is this a Stanley cup winner? I think it’s shy” LT
What more is needed?
Maybe a 3C right shot?
Maybe a high end winger?
Does Savoie or Howard or Podz check this box if they exceed expectations? Like if they each get 20 + goals 30 ish assists. Or if one pops for 30g 40a.
I thought Draisaitl was a certain winger? Now I’m confused. I agree on the shy for cup aspirations. Bring in Ryan O’Reilly and get it done.
It really is something having you’re favorite cup of morning joe and reading LT daily thoughts, evaluation and history of the league through stories and memories. Thank you for everything you do LT.
Agreed. Nothing better than a good, “What would Sam do?”
There is a chance they keep 8D and only 12F. Bowman alluded to it on July 1 as we saw on the Drop along with the ability to dress 7D if there is an injury or illness that puts them short.
I hope they don’t do that. I prefer Samanski over Stastney if the rest are healthy (although Regula does give me tingles).
I would add Shakir M to the lock list and I 100% agree with this. No chance they waive Shakir, right?
While I agree very much with the premise of this piece, it’s interesting as you have been pushing back on me for weeks when I opine the exact same.
— I’m getting ready for our golf Clubchampinship today and tmrw.
— I’m in the “Jack Nicklaus stunningly wins a Masters at 46”’stage of my golf career
— 4 kids and life does that too you but competition is always fun
— As for the Oil I can’t recall a year in McDrai era where they have had this cap flexibility going onto season.
— Pro rated you can afford any type of game changing stud that becomes available at deadline.
You can thank Darnell Nurse for the cap flexibility. That changed everything.
As far as the final four goes I like Shakir’s chances, Samanski because he’s the only centre, Joseph but I’m afraid I can’t venture a guess on that final player. If Janmark is completely healthy he always seems to be a coaches favorite, Jones could find himself in the same category and of course there’s Howard who certainly could make his presence felt.
Fire up your favorite AI and have it write an article in 80s style that says you’re “gone, done” and that “no one that old wins the club championship” and post that sucker on the fridge.