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Who is Ryan Shea? 5 little-known facts about the Oilers’ defenceman

Sean Panganiban — Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:00:03 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers strengthened the left side of their blue line on the first day of free agency, signing defenceman Ryan Shea to a five-year, $20 million contract.

Oilers fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about Shea. The defenceman is coming off a season where he tallied 35 points, the 14th-most among NHL blueliners, while finishing with a steady plus-minus rating of 30. As Shea begins his next chapter in Oil Country and looks to carry over that same steadiness, here are five little-known facts you may not know about the Oilers’ newest D-man.

Shea continues family legacy in professional hockey

When Shea joined the NCAA in 2016-17, he followed in the footsteps of his father, who also played college hockey from 1984-88.

His father, Dan Shea, played at Boston College for four seasons, and as the Huntington News mentioned in 2019, was “a Boston College legend.” During his four seasons with the Eagles, Dan played in 155 regular-season games, recording 190 points (69 goals and 121 assists).

Dan was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft, but never suited up for the club.

After college, he played professionally in the British Hockey League (Ayr Bruins/Raiders and Peterborough Pirates), where during the 1988-89 season, he tallied 112 points in 24 games (52 goals and 60 assists) and briefly in the ECHL (Winston-Salem Thunderbirds).

Shea’s hockey journey didn’t begin as a defenceman

While the Oilers locked up Shea to solidify their defence corps for the next five seasons, his hockey journey didn’t begin on the blue line.

In an interview with the Huntington News in 2019, it was revealed that Shea started playing hockey as a forward:

“I was a different player when I was a forward,” Shea said. “I was kind of laid back and more of that third-line type person up front. My dad wasn’t too happy when I made that switch because he was a forward and he didn’t like me back there, but after a couple years on the blue line, he saw that it was something.”

At a young age, Shea’s hockey coach made the decision to move him from forward to defence during a tournament, and looking back, it’s safe to say that decision paid off, especially after Shea recently signed the biggest contract of his career with the Oilers.

Shea was MVP of the 2019 Friendship Four Tournament

Shea played at Northeastern University for four seasons, playing in 149 regular-season games and tallying 78 points with the Huskies. During his tenure, he earned several accolades, including winning three straight championships, being named the Huskies’ Rookie of the Year in 2016–17, and earning the team’s Unsung Hero award in 2018–19, just to name a few.

Another big accomplishment was when he was named the M.V.P. of the Friendship Four tournament in 2019, an annual mid-season college hockey tournament held in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

📹| Senior captain Ryan Shea was named the @Friendship_Four Player of the Tournament as well as the first star and Player of the Game following a five-point weekend (2G, 3A) en route to the #HowlinHuskies Belpot victory!

Hear his thoughts on the win: pic.twitter.com/bjhMVSyZyJ

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) November 30, 2019

Over the weekend tournament, Shea registered five points (two goals and three assists), and both of his goals were game-winners, while also being named Player of the Game in the final to help his team win the Belpot Trophy.

Captain Shea’s leadership shone when Northwestern needed it most

In 2018-19, Shea was named an assistant captain of the Huskies after becoming a solid penalty killer the season before and leading the team with a +19 plus-minus rating.

The following season, head coach Jim Madigan named Shea captain of the team, and he stepped up with true leadership when it mattered most.

Northeastern faced Boston University (BU) in the 2020 Beanpot Final, and Shea’s club was on the brink of winning the championship, leading 4-3. However, Trevor Zegras tied the game for BU with less than a second remaining on the clock.

Despite the crushing game-tying goal, Northeastern persevered. The game went into double overtime, where Jordan Harris scored a power-play goal to win the championship for the Huskies.

That said, Shea came up huge for his team during the intermission before the second overtime, setting the stage for the eventual victory. As noted by Northeastern Global News, the captain stood up and reminded his teammates who they had become.

“He gave our guys not the hope, but the believability,” Madigan said.

Northeastern Captain Ryan Shea celebrates a goal during the 2019-20 season. (Photo credit: Jim Pierce-Northeastern)

Shea said at the time, “I looked around the room. No one was worried. Everyone knew — not knew, but hoped. Believed. We’ve been in this situation before. I don’t think there was anything to be nervous or worried about. We were confident.”

Shea finished the night by tallying two assists and a game-high five blocks.

Madigan praised his leadership over the years, saying:

“He’s vocal and speaks at the right times,” Madigan said. “He connects well with kids. If he sees that a player is struggling, he can quietly put his arm around him and talk to him and whether it’s after practice or in the dining hall, he’s that type of guy — he sees and reads how his teammates are feeling.”

Madigan also mentioned, “Ryan is one of the best defencemen and captains in Northeastern history.”

Shea led the AHL in plus/minus while setting a Texas Stars franchise record

After completing his four-year tenure at Northeastern University, Shea did not sign with the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that drafted him, and became a free agent. In August 2020, he joined the Dallas Stars organization, spending the next three seasons with the AHL’s Texas Stars.

Shea improved steadily over his first two seasons in the AHL, but it was during his third season in 2022–23 with Texas, that he caught the attention of many, posting an AHL-best plus-37 while playing alongside former Oiler Alex Petrovic as his defensive partner.

Not only that, but the plus-37 rating also set a Texas Stars franchise record.

Shea summarized his stellar campaign during his end-of-season interview in 2023, saying, “I was very happy with my season. I think they kind of gave me a little different role when last year I was on second PK, a little bit of power play, and this year I focused more on my defensive game and picking that side of the game up a little bit better, while keeping the offensive abilities there.”

Also, that strong plus-minus rating is something Shea carried over to the NHL last season. He went from a minus-9 in 2024–25 with the Penguins to a plus-30 rating last season, which ranked 19th best in the NHL.

Final thoughts..

Overall, I’m excited about what Shea can bring to the Oilers’ lineup. He’s obviously a late-blooming blueliner, but he has proved himself at every level, adapted his game, and found ways to succeed wherever he’s played.

What stood out the most about his hockey journey before becoming an NHL regular was his ability to elevate his game and his teammates through his leadership when the pressure was at its highest. If Shea can bring those leadership qualities, along with his strong defensive game, to Oil Country, he could become a valuable piece of the Oilers’ blue line at a good value for years to come.

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NHL Notebook: Walsh says NHL expansion is happening in Houston or Atlanta

Michael Menzies — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 22:00:57 GMT

A prominent player agent says NHL expansion is coming to either Houston or Atlanta.

Never afraid to speak his mind, agent Allan Walsh replied to an article from The Sporting News on X that dove into both potential expansion markets, media-market data, and how imminent expansion could be for the league.

“Per sources, media-market data and information is to be heavily considered as the NHL looks to either Houston or Austin, Texas, for their possible 33rd franchise,” wrote Jennifer Streeter on Thursday.

NHL expansion is coming. Houston and Atlanta. https://t.co/IgKcYEaJxp

— Allan Walsh🏒 (@walsha) August 7, 2026

In late June, commissioner Gary Bettman said the league will conduct a six-month investigation into either Houston or Austin, Texas, and then put the decision to a vote. There is exceptional interest from The Friedkin Group, who aren’t balking at the idea of $3.5 billion in expansion and new arena construction fees.

But Walsh’s quick social media comment is the first definite statement from someone who works in the league’s scope to say expansion is happening.

We’ve had our suspicions. Now, it seems like only a matter of time before the NHL becomes the first “big four” pro league in North America to go to 33 franchises.

Houston has never had NHL hockey, but was one of the stronger WHA teams in the 1970s, and had an AHL as recently as 2013.

Atlanta has been tried twice in the NHL: the Flames operated from 1972 to 1980, the Thrashers from 1999 to 2011. Both teams relocated to Canada afterward. Perhaps putting a franchise in Atlanta is the surest way to get an eighth NHL team in Canada…

Unknown Date, 1999; Uniondale, NY, USA; FILE PHOTO; Atlanta Thrashers left wing Kelly Buchberger (16) in action against the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK

Red Wings hire outside firm to help with GM hire

It’s been a few weeks since the Detroit Red Wings stripped a franchise great in Steve Yzerman from his post as general manager, and there’s been little noise out of Hockeytown since.

Reports this week, however, indicate the Winged Wheel are ramping up their awkwardly timed GM search. Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that the team has hired an outside firm to get the ball moving.

All of this is happening in the shadow of captain Dylan Larkin’s trade request, assuredly No. 1 on the to-do list for whoever wins the job. Former Oiler Shawn Horcoff is running day-to-day operations, but does not have the authority to make trades, according to St. James.

Insider Elliotte Friedman said on NHL Network this week that Yzerman will not have any impact on hockey decisions, which wasn’t initially clear when the initial news broke.

“The Red Wings are very serious about letting candidates know that they will have autonomy,” said Friedman.

“They’re open-minded about whether it’s one person or two, what the person’s background is, it might not necessarily be a ‘hockey person’ as we’ve come to define them, and I’ve heard they’ve made it pretty clear they want those who are interviewed to come in with a plan.

“A specific concrete plan on how to get the Red Wings moving forward, how to make sure that Detroit and Michigan is a destination.”

Friedman floated the name of Jeff Greenberg as a name who will be part of the search. He is currently the assistant general manager of the Detroit Tigers, which the Ilitch family also owns.

Nikishin Resolution?

Amid the Carolina Hurricanes’ summer of celebration is the lingering question of what to do with Alexander Nikishin, who is reportedly looking for big bucks after seeing the money young players are signing for this summer.

It’s left the player and organization in a negotiation stalemate. Nikishin is a restricted free agent and the Hurricanes have almost $10 million in cap space, but a trade seems like a more likely solution.

“That’s one that continues,” said Friedman. “It gets a little bit hotter in terms of conversations, then it calms down. I don’t think anything is close. I don’t get the sense that anything is imminent. But I do think that that is something, whether it’s camp, that’s one we’re going to see some action on … when I was asking around today, people told me that’s one to keep an eye on.”

Nikishin scored 11 goals and 33 points in his first full regular-season in the NHL. The big Russian defender will turn 25 in October.

Kopi to the rafters

No need to wait in the eyes of the Los Angeles Kings, who will cement the legacy of perhaps their franchise’s best player this upcoming season.

They will retire Anze Kopitar’s No. 11 to the rafters and unveil a bronze statue of the long-time centre, who is just beginning his retirement after a 20-year career. The ceremony honouring the Slovenian legend is set for Feb. 24, 2027, against the Montreal Canadiens.

Next stop? The Hockey Hall of Fame as early as 2029.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

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Examining the AHL Condors roster after first offseason signing

Zach Laing — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:00:51 GMT

The Bakersfield Condors added some depth to their lineup this week, signing forward Tucker Robertson to a one-year AHL contract.

The 23-year-old was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the Seattle Kraken, but has yet to play in an NHL game. Instead, he’s spent the last three seasons in the minor leagues, playing 140 AHL games, scoring 23 goals and 47 points, and 13 ECHL games, scoring four goals and 14 points.

Robertson, who stands 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, played his junior hockey with the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, where he had a very successful final two seasons, scoring 77 goals and 171 points in 136 games. There, in 2022-23, he helped the Petes win an OHL title, leading the team in goals (36), assists (54), and points (90) in 68 games.

The Condors have been quiet since free agency opened on July 1, with Robertson being their lone addition to the team ahead of next season, despite losing six members of last year’s team: forwards Roby Järventie, Matt Copponi, and Trevor Janicke, and defencemen Mason Millman, Tyler Inamoto, and Tyson Fiest.

Last spring, forwards William Nicholl and Tommy Lafrenière both joined the team in early April, getting their first pro games, while David Lewandowski joined later in the month, making his pro debut as well. Nicholl is set to join the Condors for next season, while Lafrenière is off to the University of Western Michigan.

Forward Eduards Tralmaks, who the Edmonton Oilers signed to a one-year deal when free agency opened, will likely start the year in Bakersfield, as will Aku Räty, who inked a one-year deal as well.

All signs point to it being a young group set to carry the load, as the team fills with recent draftees. Between the pipes will be veteran Matt Tomkins, and one or more of Nathaniel Day (age 21), Samuel Jonsson (22) and/or Connor Ungar (24).

On the blue line, there will be 32-year-old Josh Brown, who is set to be the oldest defenceman by four years. The likes of Beau Akey (21), Damien Carfagna (23), Tomas Cibulka (22) and Atro Leppanen (27) will all have chances to prove their worth.

Up front, captain Seth Griffith will return for his seventh season, and the 33-year-old will have many young guns to show the ropes, in Connor Clattenburg (21), Quinn Hutson (24), Viljami Marjala (23), Owen Michaels (24), and Nicholl (20).

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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Former Oilers forward Noah Philp retires from professional hockey

Michael Menzies — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 17:00:06 GMT

Former Edmonton Oilers forward Noah Philp has decided to hang up his skates.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as the 27-year-old had just signed a contract to play with HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League. The club shared a post on social media on Thursday, shedding some light on the situation.

“I really want to apologize to HV71 and all involved regarding the timing of my decision, but I have decided to stop playing hockey. My motivation for hockey is not fully there, and I’d rather be completely honest than not be fully invested in playing,” says Philp.

ℹ️ Noah Philp bryter sitt kontrakt med HV71 och avslutar hockeykarriären.

🗨️ "Jag ber verkligen om ursäkt till HV71 och samtliga involverade kring tajmingen av mitt beslut, men jag har dock beslutat mig för att sluta spela hockey. Min motivation för hockeyn är inte där fullt ut… pic.twitter.com/L2xUhhRjqx

— HV71 (@HV71) August 7, 2026

Philp played a total of 30 NHL games with the Oilers after originally signing in 2022 following a strong collegiate career with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

He played 15 games last season with Edmonton, scoring his first NHL goal on Oct. 11, 2025, against the Vancouver Canucks. However, he was healthy scratched the next couple of games, before scoring in his next appearance against Detroit. That would be his last NHL goal.

Philp suffered an injury in mid-November that was believed to be a concussion. After needing to clear waivers, he was claimed by the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 29. He suited up just twice for the Hurricanes, and spent the remainder of his season with the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League. His rights were traded to Anaheim in late June for Kyle Masters.

In 2023, Philp retired from hockey, saying he was “at a time in my life where I want to focus on things outside the realm of hockey.” A year later, he decided to give the game another shot, leading to his first NHL appearances.

The Canmore native officially retires playing 32 NHL games, scoring two goals and five points.

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Was Ryan Shea’s strong 2025-26 sustainble or lucky? | 31 Oilers Questions (Day 6)

Ryley Delaney — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:43 GMT

This August, Oilersnation will ask one question about every Edmonton Oilers player projected to be on the 2026-27 roster in preparation for the upcoming season. From Connor McDavid to Mattias Janmark, let’s ask some questions.

On Canada Day, the Edmonton Oilers made significant changes to their back-end. They were able to trade Darnell Nurse’s entire cap hit of $9.25 million and even got positive value for him, acquiring Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp for the long-time Oiler defenceman.

Shortly after, the Oilers found his replacement, signing Ryan Shea to a five-year deal worth $20 million, at an annual cap hit of $4 million. Shea is coming off a strong season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but that raises the question:

Was the left-shot defenceman’s breakout season the norm from now on, or was he on a PDO heater? Let’s find out in today’s edition of 31 Oilers Questions.

Ryan Shea’s 2025-26: Is it the norm or a PDO heater?

Shea had a breakout season in 2025-26.

Drafted 121st overall in the 2015 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, the Milton, Mass., product spent four seasons at Northeastern University, then another three seasons in the AHL before making his debut with the Penguins in 2023-24, his third organization.

Even then, he didn’t play more than half a season at the NHL level until last season. In 2023-24, he scored a goal in 31 games, while playing 23 AHL games. While he didn’t play an AHL game in 2024-25, he only dressed in 39 games for the Penguins that season.

Then, with increased playing time in 2025-26, the 29-year-old broke out. Over 80 games, he scored six goals and 35 points, helping the overperforming Penguins make the playoffs. They went down 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers, won two games, but lost in six.

Not only did Shea have a career-best year, but so did Ryan Mantha, Yegor Chinakhov, Justin Brazeau, and Connor Dewar. Of the players with 600 or more minutes played, no one overperformed like Shea. Let’s look at the advanced statistic PDO.

PDO, which isn’t actually an acronym for anything, is a statistic that can quantify luck or overperformance. It essentially adds the team’s shooting percentage and its save percentage, multiplied by 100. An average PDO is 1.00, with anything higher than 1.02 being classified as considerably lucky and anything less than 0.98 being considerably unlucky.

Just to establish a baseline, according to Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers’ had a team PDO of 0.981 during five-on-five action over the course of the season, a pretty unlucky season all around. It was heavily hampered by the team’s save percentage, though their 9.18 shooting percentage was nothing special either. Overall, their 0.981 PDO ranked tied for third-worst, with only two teams finishing the season with a PDO below 0.975 and two teams finishing with a PDO above 1.021.

Shea, on the other hand, had a five-on-five PDO of 1.041. No one on the Oilers even came close to that, with Zach Hyman’s 1.003 PDO ranking as the highest (minimum: 600 five-on-five minutes).

It’s not the be-all, end-all of statistics. Good players on good teams with good goaltending tend to have high PDO, such as Nathan MacKinnon. His PDO last season of 1.053 ranked tied for eighth-best. You can’t really describe MacKinnon as “lucky”, but a player like Viktor Arvidsson, who finished the year with a league-high (minimum: 600 minutes) 1.064 PDO? Yeah, that’s lucky.

Among players with 600 five-on-five minutes, Shea’s PDO ranked tied for 27th in a sample size of 546. Of players with 1,000 or more minutes, his PDO ranked tied for 10th in a sample size of 268 players.

While Shea was on the ice during five-on-five, the Penguins had a shooting percentage of 13.10 per cent—that’s not sustainable. For context, Connor McDavid’s career-high shooting percentage is 11.17, while his PDO of 1.030 in 2016-17 is the highest of his career. It’s a similar situation for Leon Draisaitl as well.

There was undeniably some luck in Shea’s season, but there are also signs that it was a genuine breakout. For starters, the eye test is enough to tell us that he can actually make a breakout pass and get out of the zone consistently. With Jake Walman and Evan Bouchard likely on the two other pairs, the Oilers have three puck-moving defencemen.

The Penguins also had a strong penalty kill, with their 81.4 per cent penalty-killing percentage ranking tied for sixth. Shea was a crucial member of that penalty kill, playing the third-most minutes of any Penguin while shorthanded. Oilersnation contributor NHL_Sid goes into far more depth and explains it better than I ever could in this article.

While Shea was lucky and his breakout coming in his late-20s is a bit worrisome, he’s still a good player. At the price point, he’ll fit in nicely on the Oilers’ bottom pairing against easier competition.

31 Oilers questions in 31 days…

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Oilersnation, FlamesNation, and Blue Jays Nation. Follow her on X at @Ryley__Delaney.

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Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 19: Tomas Cibulka

Spencer Pomoty — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:00:40 GMT

Welcome to Oilersnation’s countdown of the top 20 prospects in the Edmonton Oilers system.

Just like No. 20 Owen Michaels on our countdown, the 19th-ranked player on this list came as a free agent signing. Tomas Cibulka has been playing in the Czech professional league for the past two seasons. The mobile defenceman signed a two-year entry-level deal on March 27.

In 47 regular-season games this year, Cibulka scored seven goals and totalled 22 points, but in four playoff games the Czech defender had a goal and three points. In the 2024-25 season, Cibulka had a similar kind of season with six goals and 20 points in 43 games, then once again he stepped it up in the playoffs with seven assists in nine games.

#19: Tomas Cibulka

Position: D

Shoots: Right

Nationality: CZE

Date of Birth: April 2, 2004

Drafted: Undrafted

Height and weight: 6-foot-0 / 170 lbs.

2025-26 stats (CZE): 47 GP | 7 G | 15 A | 22 P

Contract status: Two years left, $955,000 cap hit

Like Owen Michaels, Tomas Cibulka was not selected in the NHL draft.

However, unlike the Western Michigan alumnus, the left-shot defenceman is almost two full years younger with two years of experience playing professionally against men. The main knock on Cibulka is that he is slight as a defenceman at 170 pounds, but I’m interested in his measurables at camp to see if there have been any gains.

The most intriguing aspect of Cibulka’s game is his skating ability. Whether it is staying tight to a winger, controlling a great gap, or moving laterally across the blue line, the six-foot-tall defenceman is incredibly fluid in all situations.

What makes Tomas Cibulka’s skating and puck management stand out

I could post all day about his skating ability alone, but this leads to another area of Cibulka’s game that had me impressed this year: his ability to make a play under pressure. Having a strong skating ability like the undrafted defenceman has is always a good first step, but what you do with it matters more. In the first clip above, you can see how he is able to use his mobility to his advantage, deceives the opposing forward with it, and makes a simple play under pressure.

Below are two clips of the 22-year-old defenceman making some strong plays under pressure.

There aren’t many times where I found myself frustrated with the ability of this “smaller” defenceman playing under tight pressure. But once again, all of these plays are allowed to happen because of the excellent edge work and explosive two-steps from Cibulka.

The final area is his overall offensive ability. Watching the games makes you think that he should probably have a few more points than what is on the scoresheet, but sometimes that just isn’t the case.

There were times where I’d like to see Cibulka make a pass instead of shooting from the point. However, those times didn’t come to the surface too often. Below are the final few clips showing off the overall skill and offensive ability the new Bakersfield defenceman brings to the game… enjoy and we’ll talk about it after.

Tomas Cibulka’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

Sometimes there are players that are just “fun” to watch, and Tomas Cibulka falls into that category for me.

Whether or not he can make it to the NHL, there is a lot of risk and confidence in his game, but that’s also what makes him an intriguing player to me. I believe the skating, confidence, and skill can take him a decent ways.

If I had to be picky about some of the clips, it’s that Cibulka takes his lower hand off his stick to protect the puck and it limits what he can do after he beats his man. Of course, inviting that much pressure on in the best league in the world is a risky game to play, but if Cibulka can get a bit stronger and continue to become an elite skater, there is a path where his game could work at the NHL level.

Now I don’t expect the Czech defenceman to stick-handle around the best hockey players this planet has to offer, but all the clips showed a strong fundamental skill set: playmaking under pressure (whether it’s with his feet or his hands), an excellent skating base to work with, and the ability to deceive the opponent.

Tomas Cibulka 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

I think there is a chance that Cibulka climbs up my list by December if he starts off hot with Bakersfield. I wonder if he will get a chance to run the second power-play unit (assuming Atro Leppanen is occupying the top unit). But if he doesn’t, I don’t see him as a stalwart on the penalty kill, even though he could provide some minutes there.

If everything goes perfectly, Cibulka is a player that could provide value on your third pairing one day, and by the end of his contract in 2028 you will have a pretty good idea if he is an NHLer or not. If he is going to suit up in NHL games, my best bet would be during the 2029 season. I would love for the wild defenceman to pan out because, as I said earlier, he is a boatload of fun and that’s what the game is all about.

Top 20 Oilers prospects for 2026-27

Rank	Name	Pos.	Age	2025-26 Team (League)	2025-26 Stats	Acquisition	NHL timeline
20	Owen Michaels	F	24	Western Michigan University (NCAA)	39 GP \| 13 G \| 13 A \| 26 P	Signed	2028-29
19	Tomas Cibulka	D	22	HC Motor České Budějovice (CZE)	47 GP \| 7 G \| 15 A \| 22 P	Signed	2028-29

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Can Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard succeed under Mike Babcock?

Jason Gregor — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 20:30:11 GMT

We are 40 days away from the start of training camp for the 2026-27 season. The Edmonton Oilers have made some changes to their roster, but the most significant change will be on the bench, with head coach Mike Babcock and associate coach D.J. Smith taking over from Kris Knoblauch and Mark Stuart.

The only new forward signed in the offseason was Mathieu Joseph, but the Oilers currently have 15 forwards who played 20-plus NHL games last season, and with the team expected to carry three goalies, only 13 of them will be on the opening-night roster. One question/comment I keep hearing/reading about is if Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard can succeed under Babcock.

We hear these same concerns with every coach. Many claimed Knoblauch didn’t like young players, even though Savoie played the most penalty-kill minutes of any forward last season. The truth is, not all young players are ready to play right away, but if they are good, coaches will play them.

How has Mike Babcock historically utilized young forwards?

Babcock played loads of young players in Toronto. In his first season, the Maple Leafs finished dead last and 21-year-old Morgan Rielly played the most minutes of any Maple Leaf. In Babcock’s second season, he gave rookies significant minutes: Auston Matthews (17:48), Mitch Marner (16:49), Zach Hyman (16:42), Connor Brown (16:12) and William Nylander (16:01). They all reached double digits in goals and scored between 28 to 69 points.

They were top eight in ice time per game among Toronto forwards. They surprised many by making the playoffs and exceeded expectations, but unlike this edition of the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto was not expected to compete for the Stanley Cup.

But Babcock’s previous team, the Detroit Red Wings, was a Cup contender in 2008 and 2009. They won the Cup in 2008 and lost in the final in 2009, so it is likely better to look at how young forwards on those teams were used by Babcock.

The 2008 Red Wings were carried offensively by Pavel Datsyuk (31-66-97) and Henrik Zetterberg (43-49-92). Dan Cleary and Jiri Hudler tied for third among forwards with 42 points. Those two, along with Tomas Holmstrom (40), Mikael Samuelsson (40), Johan Franzen (38) and Valtteri Filppula (36) rounded out their top eight scoring forwards. They didn’t get much offence from forwards nine to 13 with Kris Draper chipping in 17 points, Tomas Kopecky (12), Kirk Maltby (10), Dallas Drake (6) and Aaron Downey (3).

They did get a lot of scoring from their blue line with Nick Lidstrom (10-60-70), Brian Rafalski (13-42-55) and Niklas Kronwall (7-28-35) chipping in over 35 points.

Here’s a look at their five-on-five play, including points as well as shots for/against, goals for/against, PDO as well as O-zone, D-zone and On the Fly zone starts.

Filppula logged the third-most minutes while Hudler was sixth. Hudler was 22 and in his second NHL season while Filppula was 23 and also in his second NHL season. Hudler had scored 15 goals as a rookie while Filppula scored 10. Filppula averaged 11:16 per game as a rookie while Hudler played 10:02, but in 2008 Filppula logged 16:58 per game while Hudler played 13:10 per game. Both finished in the top eight forwards in ice time per game. Hudler did play on the second power-play unit and got some time on the first unit, while Filppula played the eighth-most minutes on the penalty kill among forwards.

It is difficult to compare special-teams ice time to today because in 2008, the Red Wings had 391 power-play opportunities (second-most in the NHL) and were shorthanded 357 times (tied for 12th). Last season, the Oilers had 220 power-play opportunities (26th) and were shorthanded 221 times (tied for 25th). Florida had the most power-play chances at 266, which is still 125 fewer than the 2008 Wings had.

When I look at Filppula and Hudler, I don’t see why Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard can’t both play in the top nine and average at least 13 minutes per game. Savoie had a great rookie season, scoring 18-19-37 while averaging 14:47 per game. He played very well after the Olympic break, producing 19 points in 24 games. Savoie played the most minutes on the penalty kill last year. With Jason Dickinson here now, I don’t see that happening, but Savoie should get top-six minutes as well as some power-play time.

Howard played just over 10 minutes per game in his 29 games last season, while thriving in the AHL, scoring 24 goals in 47 games. He played more than 26 games last season, so he won’t be considered a rookie by the league, even though it would be his first full season in the NHL. I see Howard in a similar light as Hudler. He’s a smaller, skilled forward with very good offensive instincts. He’s a shooter and the Oilers don’t have a pure shooting winger. Leon Draisaitl is the best shooter on the team, especially on the power play, while Zach Hyman is excellent around the net, but he rarely scores from outside of eight feet from the goal.

Babcock has shown a willingness to play young players, if they show they can play. Filppula played over 16 minutes per night in the playoffs, while Hudler scored 14 points in 22 playoff games when they won the Cup.

In 2009, the Red Wings didn’t add any young forwards to the team. Marian Hossa was the only new addition, but Filppula still played over 16 minutes in 2009, and Hudler scored 57 points while averaging 13:39 per game.

In both seasons the Red Wings went to the Cup, Babcock had two young forwards as regulars in the top nine, and both contributed.

OILERS’ TOP NINE WINGERS…

Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson are the top three centres, while Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen and Savoie should be five of the top six wingers. Howard will compete for ice time with Trent Frederic and Colton Dach. I don’t see Joseph, Mattias Janmark, or Max Jones as regulars in the top nine, unless one of them has a great start and bullies his way into the top nine.

The Oilers will have a healthy competition for ice time, and if Howard comes in and plays well early, I won’t be surprised at all if Babcock plays him regularly in the top nine. He did it in Detroit as well as in Toronto with multiple young, skilled forwards. Hyman and Kapanen are two players who played regularly in the top nine under Babcock early in their careers, and they did it by playing Babcock’s system. It isn’t just about points—it is about being responsible with or without the puck.

Savoie showed he could do that last season, and I expect he will continue that this year, and Howard is a smart player. He has the skill to finish plays, more than many of the other wingers, and if he shows he is competent defensively, I expect Babcock will play him between 11 to 13 minutes per game.

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Kelly Hrudey will not return to Sportsnet broadcasts

Michael Menzies — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:00:05 GMT

There will be at least one familiar face who will not return to Rogers hockey broadcasts in the upcoming season.

Kelly Hrudey revealed in a social media post on Wednesday evening that his contract was not renewed. Hrudey has been part of Hockey Night in Canada and Rogers essentially since his playing career ended in 1998. Many viewers will remember his “Behind the Mask” segment.

For over a decade, Hrudey has been a key part of the Calgary Flames broadcast, doing colour commentary with Rick Ball and Jon Abbott. This will be yet another sports broadcasting change for the Edmonton Oilers’ rival.

Update pic.twitter.com/NT7GkYLQND

— Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey) August 5, 2026

“I look back and I thank you for the viewer, you may have hated me or loved me,” said Hrudey in his message. “I’m OK with either. But I also think of all my friends. You weren’t a co-worker to me, you were a friend.”

“By the way, this is not a retirement … I’m so excited for Act Three.”

Rogers hasn’t officially announced its broadcast teams for the season yet. There’s been speculation of more potential changes coming to the panel, with some wondering whether Ron MacLean will be back in the fold as the main host.

Hrudey hails from Edmonton and carved out a long NHL career after being drafted 38th overall by the New York Islanders in 1980, joining the team at the tail end of their dynasty. He spent parts of six seasons with the Isles before being dealt to the Los Angeles Kings, where he had his best team success once Wayne Gretzky joined. They made a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, but lost to the Montreal Canadiens.

He finished his career with the San Jose Sharks for his last two seasons.

Broadcasts are already changing for Canadian hockey fans. Wednesday Night Hockey was bought by Prime Video.

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With CBA changes, the Oilers will need to find a full-time EBUG

Michael Menzies — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:00:02 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers will need to make one more signing this off-season as part of a new wrinkle in the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement.

One of the more charming and whimsical elements of hockey in recent years is the idea that a man off the street could suddenly be thrust into game action. The emergency backup goalie situation is rare: when both the starting and backup netminders leave the game due to injury or become unavailable, allowing a third virtual unknown to emerge.

An EBUG situation doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it’s a great story. No one will forget when the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to 42-year-old arena Zamboni driver David Ayres in 2020, or when local boy Matt Berlin finished the dying moments in an Edmonton Oilers game in 2023.

However, the new CBA has done away with the old EBUG system. Beginning in 2026-27, every NHL team must declare and sign their EBUG, which is then approved by the league.

No longer does the home team provide the EBUG for both teams. Instead, it’s a full-time role where these goalies will travel with the team and be available for practices.

But not just anyone can do this job, as the NHL isn’t going to allow teams to have recently retired pros as EBUGs to circumvent the cap.

To qualify as an EBUG, you must never have played an NHL game and have played fewer than 80 total games as a professional. Also, if you’ve played pro hockey for the last three seasons, you aren’t allowed.

It is believed that the Oilers have signed a local individual to be their EBUG for the 2026-27 season, but haven’t made an official statement. And if all goes well, fans will never have to see the EBUG in action.

In the past decade, there have been only six EBUGs who’ve seen game action.

Jorge Alves (Dec. 31, 2016) – Carolina Hurricanes equipment manager played 7.6 seconds vs the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Scott Foster (March 29, 2018) – Chicago Blackhawks needed seven saves from Foster, a 36-year-old accountant and beer-league player, who earned a combined shutout over the Winnipeg Jets.
David Ayres (Feb. 22, 2020) – The most famous situation, as Ayres played just over 28 minutes for the Hurricanes against the Maple Leafs, and stopped eight of 10 shots for the win.
Thomas Hodges (April 29, 2022) – Hodges played nearly an entire period, but only faced three shots in the Anaheim Ducks net in a game against the Dallas Stars.
Matt Berlin (Jan. 28, 2023) – A great moment for a local goalie who played for the Sherwood Park Crusaders and University of Alberta Golden Bears, Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft gave Berlin a lifelong memory.
Jett Alexander (April 8, 2023) – The last game action for an EBUG, as varsity goalie Alexander played 1:10 for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Canadiens.

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Can Evan Bouchard shake the label of a bad defender? | 31 Oilers Questions (Day 5)

Zach Laing — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:00:10 GMT

This August, Oilersnation will ask one question about every Edmonton Oilers player projected to be on the 2026-27 roster in preparation for the upcoming season. From Connor McDavid to Mattias Janmark, let’s ask some questions.

Throughout his first seven years in the NHL, Evan Bouchard has earned himself a moniker that no blueliner wants: a bad defender.

It’s followed him in and out of each season — justified or not — and as the years go by, notices of his improvement have fallen on deaf ears. And while this may come as a surprise to some, those changes happened years ago.

In fact, since the 2022-23 season, his second full season in the NHL, Bouchard has been a positive contributor defensively, according to HockeyViz. When Bouchard has been on the ice at five-on-five, the Oilers’ expected goals against rate of 2.22 per hour sits at a staggering 15 per cent rate higher than league average, all the while generating 3.33 expected goals for per hour, a 28 per cent rate greater than league average, according to HockeyViz. It’s no small sample size, either, as he’s played 5,683 minutes in such a situation.

A massive amount of that, of course, has been with Mattias Ekholm, with whom he’s played 3,676 of those minutes, roughly 65 per cent of his total ice time. Together, they’ve been tremendous, generating 30 per cent more offence than league average and 16 per cent better defence than league average, but when Bouchard hasn’t played with Ekholm, he’s just as good. Offensively, it’s an expected goals for rate of 3.22, 24 per cent above league average, and defence at a 2.29 expected goals against per hour rate, 12 per cent above league average.

In all of Bouchard’s 5v5 minutes since 2022-23, his raw goals for to goals against ratio sits at a nice plus-69, for a 56.1 per cent goal share.

Those are a lot of numbers, I get it, but it’s important to lay the groundwork of what’s actually happening on the ice beyond what your eyes tell you. The problem with Evan Bouchard, however, is that the eyes of many get caught up with the glaring mistakes. And make no mistake, there are some headscratchers out there. What’s been frustrating to see is the giveaway numbers climbling, and the takeaway numbers declining.

According to Natural Stat Trick, at five-on-five per hour, Bouchard had 3.21 giveaways and 2.67 takeaways in 2022-23. In 2023-24, it was 2.76 giveaways, and 1.98 takeaways. In 2024-25, 4.37 giveaways and 1.85 takeaways. Last year? A dismal 3.89 giveaways and 0.9 takeaways.

Nobody is denying that area of his game needs to be cleaned up, and it will be near the top of D.J. Smith’s priority list as he sinks his teeth into the Oilers’ defencemen. All of this is to say that things like giveaways and takeaways are largely subjective stats, tracked by eye in each NHL arena. What’s a giveaway or takeaway in one rink may not be the same in the next.

The raw numbers, however, are objective: when Evan Bouchard is on the ice, no matter whom with, good things are going to happen, but in order for Bouchard to continue his ascent, and gain more leaguewide recognition in the Norris Trophy race, the blunders need to decrease.

31 Oilers questions in 31 days…

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor and The Nation Network’s news director. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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