Edmonton Oilers Prepare for Season Opener After Final Roster Decisions
The Edmonton Oilers had a break on Saturday but resumed practice on Sunday as final roster decisions loomed. Veteran winger Max Jones was placed on waivers for potential assignment to Bakersfield. Curtis Lazar and Noah Philp were seen participating in drills, with speculation about the battle for the 4C position. The first line featured Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Trent Frederic, while rookie Matt Savoie joined Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane on the second line. Philp centered Podkolzin and Kapanen, and Henrique was between Howard and Tomasek. Jake Walman was absent from Sunday's practice, raising questions about his status. Defensive pairings included Ekholm-Bouchard, Nurse-Regula, and Kulak-Stecher, with Skinner and Pickard in goal. No Oilers were placed on waivers on Sunday.
The Oilers are gearing up for the start of the 2025-26 NHL regular season with The Battle of Alberta on Wednesday. Stay tuned for more updates on the team as the season progresses.