I came away from yesterday’s Oilers news and videos with two impressions: First, the lines and pairings are what Mike Babcock envisioned before yesterday. Second, how quickly he recognizes the names on the outside (specifically Josh Samanski) and adjusts, the better the chances this team (la-dee-da) dances in September when the regular season starts. Please read this.
OILERS LINES AND PAIRINGS (YESTERDAY)
- McDavid-Draisaitl-Podkolzin
- Howard-RNH-Hyman
- Frederic-Dickinson-Kapanen
- Formenton-Dach-Joseph
- Shea-Bouchard
- Walman-Murphy
- Ekholm-Mukhamadullin
- Stastney-Emberson
- Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi
- Injured: Matt Savoie, Frederik Andersen, Mattias Janmark
This is the group Babcock and the coaching staff believed (on paper) represented Oilers true north during the summer conversations. I suspect the top line will waltz out on opening night as populated here, and the second line will too, unless Matt Savoie is ready and that seems unlikely. Third and fourth line could see a shuffle, and don’t be surprised if Josh Samanski replaces Alex Formenton. Moving Colton Dach to center is a Craig MacTavish move, and it probably lasts as long as Chad Kilger played center in Edmonton 25 year ago.
I don’t hate it, but the main concerns I have are Nugent-Hopkins driving the second line and the coach not realizing Josh Samanski may pass Jason Dickinson as a checking center if he’s used in that role and given opportunity.
CONDORS LINES AND PAIRINGS (YESTERDAY)
- Jones-Samanski-Hutson
- Stonehouse-Marjala-Raty
- Pitlick-Michaels-Griffith
- Tralmaks-Nicholl-Tassy
- Leppanen-Cibulka
- Stillman-Brown
- Carfagna-Akey
- Sjolund
- Tomkins, Ungar
I don’t think there is much we can read into the specific lines and pairings for the Condors, but we do know Connor Clattenburg and James Stefan, along with Samuel Jonsson, Nathan Day and Eemil Vinni are also hanging around (injured or included out). Miles to go and Colin Chaulk will figure it out starting Monday.
Things will go quickly now, because they have to in order for the club to be ready for opening night later this month. Suspect we will see some players assigned as soon as today, and by Tuesday morning Babcock will be more confident in his evaluations. Players who are on the upswing? I’ll list Vasily Podkolzin, Ryan Shea, Shakir Mukhamadullin and I hope Ike Howard. The downbeat? Josh Samanski.
On the Lowdown today, Steve Lansky will be my feature guest and we will talk Oilers, Elks, NFL Week 2 and more. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Five burning Edmonton Oilers questions now that training camp is underway
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7604181/2026/09/18/oilers-training-camp-questions-2026/
Dickinson banged up already. Rishaug with video with him leaving skate hurt. He has come back to test it.
I’m downbeat about Samanski as well. This kid needs reps, not a blow to his confidence. And I still hate McD and Drai on the same line. It’s stupid.
LT: “The downbeat? Josh Samanski.”
Are you actually trying to blow up your blog on a Friday morning?
Drai seemed giddy in his interview yesterday, especially when talking about Babcock. Maybe the team just needed a man to talk to them about man stuff.
I don’t follow many other sports teams closely anymore. Are all teams this weird??
I think the original sin was hiring Peter Chiarelli. All he had to do is use the 2015 draft picks MacT had acquired, and the Oilers would have won more than one Stanley. I say this while acknowledging that, at the time, I thought Chiarelli would be successful. Le sigh.
I will never forget that draft. I was so excited about McD and having an extra first round pick. Then just baffled when things went sideways.
Hallelujah, amen.
He destroyed the team with that Reinhart trade (worst trade in oil history imo) even though he seemed to populate the AHL ok.
Nightmare GM for me.
One word. Gravitas.
If nothing else, he’s probably the opposite of Knoblauch personality wise.
I figure since Babcock wrote these lines on a napkin in the summer, gee I wonder how he knew they would sign Forementon, nothing is written in stone.
I loved the Babcock interview yesterday. Guy sounds like he just chugged 4 red bulls.
Based on the video I saw he should be nicknamed Old Yeller! 🙂
But then you do know what happens to Old Yeller at the end of the book, right?
Happens to every coach ever.
Ha, excellent