The Oilers have one more game left on their pre-season schedule before they open the 2025-26 NHL season next week at home against the Calgary Flames. Friday night against the Vancouver Canucks will be the last opportunity for players looking to make an impression on the coaching staff.

Eight players were cut from Edmonton’s training camp roster on Thursday following the loss in Seattle the previous night. Cam Dineen and Riley Stillman were placed on waivers, while Atro Leppänen, Quinn Hutson, Josh Samanski, James Hamblin, Viljami Marjala, and Connor Clattenburg were optioned to the Bakersfield Condors. A few of those players had already been sent to the AHL, but needed to rejoin the Oilers to fill out the roster against the Kraken.

With one more pre-season game remaining on the schedule and a few days left until the season gets going, the Oilers will soon have to make their final roster decisions. There are 25 players left at training camp, so two more will need to be cut to get Edmonton down to a 23-man roster.

Assuming the Oilers go with 14 forwards, seven defencemen, and two goaltenders, their final cuts will consist of one forward and one defenceman. In terms of forwards, David Tomášek and Noah Philp have both impressed during the pre-season, leaving Max Jones and Curtis Lazar as likely candidates to end up on waivers. On the blueline, Edmonton will need to decide between sending young Alec Regula to waivers or doing the same with reliable veteran Troy Stecher.