The Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets, albeit with almost completely different rosters, will play each other for the second time in three days. Tonight’s rosters will be more competitive than the one in Edmonton, when the Oilers had their top line dressed while the Jets went with mainly a non-NHL roster. That’s the reality of the pre-season, even with only four games. Veterans of 100+ NHL games can only play twice, but tonight both teams will have close to half their NHL roster in the lineup.

The result doesn’t matter for the coaches. They are watching to see how players play positionally and structurally more than if they produce points. I believe the Oilers’ top 11 forward spots are locked in, which leaves one of Mathieu Joseph, Josh Samanski and Max Jones needing to be assigned to Bakersfield. I’d likely lean towards Jones, based on where he has played in practices, but that is just a projection. Mike Babcock has liked the trio of Joseph, Colton Dach and Alex Formenton, so they will likely play the final pre-season game vs. Calgary and start the regular season together,

But Babcock was quick to point out that nothing is set in stone for his roster. “It is an exhibition game, but I liked him. He is big, runs over people, seems to know how to skate, stops on defense, forechecks, coachable…looks good to me,” Babcock said about Dach playing centre. He admits he is still trying to learn about his roster. He mentioned he can watch video forever, but he needs to be on the bench in games to truly get a feel of who they are and what they do.

Babcock has said it many times, and I agree with him. He doesn’t know what he has yet. It is way too early to be thinking that the line combinations we’ve seen in training camp will remain intact for long periods. Dach might be best suited to play with Samanski down the middle, or maybe Dach will continue to progress and grab a centre job. How long will Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play together? I suspect they will run their own line at times, and they will also play together for stretches. If the other lines play well, don’t get outscored and chip in offensively, then Babcock can keep his superstars together. Babcock did have an interesting response when asked about Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

“Nuge is a worker,” Babcock said after yesterday’s practice. “The problem is that if you play with Connor, and you’re being careful all the time and you’re watching, then you don’t look like the player you are. I don’t want him to play like that. I want him to play full out and get after it.

“He’s going to be a massive part of things here. He’s beyond smart, maybe the best man in the middle on the power play in the National Hockey League, and he knows how to play with and without the puck. He’s a good leader and an important piece for us,” continued Babcock.

He will be an important piece, no question, but he’s never been overly productive at 5×5. I do think he is more engaged when he plays centre, but he might be better suited as a third-line centre. I wonder if at some point this season we see McDavid, Draisaitl, RNH and Dickinson down the middle. When Matt Savoie returns, you have him, Zach Hyman, Vasily Podkolvin, Kasperi Kapanen, Isaac Howard, Trent Frederic, Colton Dach, Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph as wingers. You could run four lines with those four centres if you wanted. Edmonton has lots of options, and Babcock will need time to try all of the possible combinations.

Two preseason games for veterans is just the start of Babcock finding who he likes together and which combinations are best. Once the regular season begins and he sees them play, and practice, against NHL competition, we will be able to see which combinations, duos or trios he likes, but I suspect we will see him experiment with many different combinations throughout the season. If you are expecting to see a consistent top three lines, you will be mistaken. That is realistic, especially when you add in injuries. Savoie’s return will automatically alter one line, and possibly more.

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Isaac Howard and Josh Samanski will play their second preseason game. Both of them can play more than two as neither has played 100 NHL games yet. I’m interested to see Eduards Tralmaks play. He will start in the AHL, but the organization signed him for depth and feels he could contribute at the NHL level.

There is an odd “whipping boy” mentality that resides among Oilers fans. With Darnell Nurse gone, I’ve already sensed many have decided Jake Walman will be that guy. I’ve never understood the need to have someone you loathe and want to blame all the failures on. Walman needs to stay healthy; that is his biggest challenge. He was injured in the 2025 playoffs, and that hampered his off-season training and last year he was never in top conditioning. He had a full summer to train this off-season and says he feels great. If he can stay healthy, he should be able to help the team, especially if his conditioning isn’t an issue. Walman is pretty skilled. I don’t think he played awful last year, but he can be better this season. He likely will have to be as a segment of the fanbase has him in their sights as the scapegoat.

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DiVincentiis
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The Jets will have a more NHL-laden roster than they dressed on Saturday, and similar to the Oilers will have 5-6 forwards and three D who will be regulars during the season. Winnipeg’s main battles in camp are on their fourth line and third pair defence, as well as their backup goalie now that Stuart Skinner is the starter with Connor Hellebuyck suspended and awaiting a trade.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Home teams are 10-4 in the first two nights of preseason hockey, and both the Jets and Oilers are 1-0 at home. Edmonton pulls off a slight preseason upset with a 3-2 road victory.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Hyman scores on the power play.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Tralmaks scores a goal and gets a second game in Vancouver on Thursday.