The @EdmontonOilers practice: RNH-McDavid-Hyman (*Mangiapane)-Draisaitl-Roslovic Howard-Savoie-Hutson Janmark-Henrique-Frederic Lazar-Kapanen Ekholm-Bouchard Nurse-Regula Stastney-Emberson Stillman Pickard Ingram *Podkolzin is sick
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Oilers open 2026 with a kid line as Savoie centres Howard, Hutson in practice
Photo credit: Flickr/Bakersfield Condors
By Zach Laing
Jan 2, 2026, 18:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 2, 2026, 18:01 EST
The Edmonton Oilers will be opening the New Year with a kid line.
During Friday’s practice, Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch had recently recalled Isaac Howard and Quinn Hutson on the third line together, with fellow rookie Matt Savoie up the middle.
Howard and Hutson were recalled to the big club Friday morning amid AHL seasons in which they’ve made lots of noise in the AHL. Howard, 21, was sent down to the Bakersfield Condors in mid-November after struggling early in the season, scoring two goals and three points in 17 games. But he caught fire in Bakersfield, scoring 10 goals and 23 points in 16 games, enough to put him fifth in rookie scoring across the league. His 1.44 points per game, meanwhile, paced all rookies.
Hutson, 24, earned his second recall in as many weeks, having played three games for the Oilers against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota Wild, notching his first NHL goal against the B’s. His first pro season has gone very well in Bakersfield, scoring 19 goals and 32 points that lead all Condors players and AHL rookies.
The Oilers top line remained the same, with Connor McDavid centring Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman, while the second line saw Jack Roslovic bump up alongside Leon Draisaitl and Andrew Mangiapane, as Knoblauch alluded to earlier this week. Edmonton’s fourth line featured Adam Henrique centring Trent Frederic and Mattias Janmark.
On the blue line, Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard remained together, Darnell Nurse and Alec Regula were on the second pair, while Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson manned the third pair.
Vasily Podkolzin, as Bob Stauffer mentioned above, missed practice Friday due to an illness, and Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said he’s questionable for Saturday afternoon’s matinee against the Philadelphia Flyers. Puck drop for that game is set for 1:30 PM MT, where Calvin Pickard is likely to get the start.
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Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
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