Knoblauch gave updates on injuries after Wednesday’s optional morning skate. Many of the team’s top players didn’t participate, with the Oilers’ next game not until Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Curtis Lazar will be out at least a week, but likely four weeks, according to coach Kris Knoblauch. Lazar went down in the first period with an undisclosed injury after playing three shifts against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.

Knoblauch did not give much detail about the type of injury.

Lazar has forged his way into being an everyday player in the Oilers’ lineup lately, having been scratched just five times since the Christmas break. In total, Lazar has played 38 games, totalling three goals and five points in a fourth-line role.

Walman benched

Jake Walman didn’t play in the third period vs Ottawa, and Knoblauch post-game alluded to an injury being why the Oilers’ defenceman didn’t see the ice.

However, Walman clarified that it was more of a benching, but he did tweak something “a little bit” and could’ve played through it. He was a minus-2 with 11:16 time-on-ice.

“It sucks not playing. You want to be a part of that comeback and be part of the team. Especially being part of the reason why you’re down, you want to kind of get back at it. But yeah, the onus on me. I gotta play better. And I put myself in that situation,” said Walman on Wednesday, who took accountability with his play.

On the first goal against, Walman missed a breakout pass that led to a turnover and the Dylan Cozens 1-0 goal. He was also a part of the gaggle of Oilers in front of the net who were outbattled by an outmanned Lars Eller, who freed the puck for the Michael Amadio 4-2 goal.

Knoblauch wants to see Walman moving his feet to create plays. But he acknowledged that injuries to the second-year Oiler haven’t helped Walman be at his best this season.

“[I wanna see] a little more urgency to his game. I think he played with that in the playoffs. This year, he’s been derailed with two significant injuries, and that has made it more difficult for him to find his game. So whether that’s not playing regularly, missing time, regular practices, not having your legs. I think that’s made it difficult for him,” said Knoblauch.

“But he needs to find his game, push himself to get better, whether that’s in practices or the games, just missing making passes.”

Walman’s start to the season was delayed and didn’t begin until October 21. He missed almost two months from November 20-January 13 after blocking a shot against Tampa Bay.

He has eight goals and 18 points in 33 games this season.

Janmark’s injury has history

Forward Mattias Janmark was scheduled to have season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday. The 33-year-old’s injury dates back to last season, said Knoblauch, but the pain he was going through was becoming unbearable to continue playing.

“It was the injury that he had last year. He was able to get some treatments that helped it, but he could only get those treatments periodically. Playing through a bunch of pain, give him a lot of credit for doing that, because there was times where it was really uncomfortable for him, but, and then as season went on, you know, he felt that he could play through it, and It just got to be just too much,” said Knoblauch.

Over the Olympic break, the pain did not improve.

“He was just playing compromised out there. He’s never out of position. He made good plays, but mostly the puck battles, he didn’t have his strength, and we felt for him. He was the one who made the decision that it was best to get the surgery.”

Janmark was officially placed on long-term injured reserve. He scored one goal and eight points in 43 games.

Call-up undetermined

The Lazar injury puts the Oilers at 11 forwards on the active roster. Andrew Mangiapane is back physically in Edmonton, awaiting a trade after playing one shift with the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday.

He was sent down to the AHL after the club’s salary cap gymnastics in acquiring Connor Murphy. Knoblauch didn’t speculate on who the Oilers might recall.

Jason Gregor

@JasonGregor

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Lazar will be out up to four weeks via Knoblauch. If he goes to LTIR they could recall one of Hamblin or Jarventie, who are on league minimum like Lazar.

7:48 PM · Mar 4, 2026

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Read 13 replies

Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor suggested that if Lazar is placed on LTIR, Edmonton could recall Roby Järventie or James Hamblin, who both make league minimum like Lazar. Both are having fine seasons with the Condors.

Järventie has played seven NHL games in the past, and has 34 points on the season. Hamblin has played 41 games with the Oilers from 2022-2024. He’s set a career high in goals already with 22, while tallying 35 points.

The trade deadline on Friday aligns with the Oilers’ next game, a big test against the Eastern Conference leading Carolina Hurricanes. The Oilers forward group could look much different by then.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

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