EDMONTON -- There's just one game left in the preseason for the Edmonton Oilers, one game before everything must get sorted out.
Almost every spot on the roster seemed accounted for heading into training camp. Other than monitoring how a few young players would fare, there didn't appear to be much intrigue.
A few young players have made things interesting, though. They've created problems, albeit good ones, for the organization.
The likes of Matt Savoie and Ike Howard (both of whom were always top candidates to make the team), plus Noah Philp and Alec Regula, are giving the decision-makers lots to ponder. In combination with their fine showings, an extended absence from Zach Hyman to start the season and any injuries extending past Friday's exhibition finale have the potential to change the matrix ahead of Monday's deadline to name a season-opening roster.
Max Jones took part in practice on Thursday, a sign he's closing in on being game-ready after he was injured last Tuesday in Winnipeg. Jones needs to be healthy if the Oilers want to waive him. Otherwise, his $1 million salary would count on the Oilers' cap whether he's on IR or on the active roster. Jake Walman and Mattias Janmark weren't on the ice Thursday and could be IR candidates to start the season if they're not deemed healthy. Walman is expected to be ready for next Wednesday's season opener.
With Jones, Walman and Janmark in game shape and Hyman on the roster, there's enough room for 22 healthy players and the ability to accrue some cap space. That was the stated preference by management last season, and it would be helpful to have more of a buffer ahead of this season's trade deadline.
But the effectiveness of Savoie, Howard, Philp and Regula at camp has management at least contemplating the idea of putting Hyman on LTIR to start the season. Doing so affords the Oilers enough room in their budget to keep 23 players on the active roster, even if there's some possible manipulations before Monday's deadline, as PuckPedia noted.
The Oilers will have to say goodbye to two players with roster potential (if Hyman is active), one (if Hyman's on LTIR and no one's on IR), or maybe even keep all in the mix around (if Hyman's on LTIR and someone else is on IR).
Provided the decision comes down whether to put Hyman on LTIR, here's what I'm hearing about and seeing from those four other players -- and how it might affect others.
Let's get the easiest one out of the way. Savoie is starting the season with the Oilers. That's been a near lock for weeks, and the deadbolt's been secured now.
Savoie was arguably the best player in rookie camp, and all he's done since then is show he knows what it takes to be a reliable NHLer.
"I think my game is in a really good spot right now," he said. "I've been working all summer, working all camp, to get to this spot, and I feel like I can be a contributor now, and I'm working towards that."
He's consistently been on the right side of pucks and done an excellent job of winning board battles against bigger, more-established players. He's been integrated into the penalty kill, something he did last season with AHL Bakersfield and something coach Kris Knoblauch wants him to do this season. He's even a candidate for second power-play duty, which he got in Seattle on Wednesday. He scored his first preseason goal just as a Kraken penalty expired.
"He's made a strong impression right from Day 1," Knoblauch said. "He's been working hard, and his details have been good. Not only is he labelled as an offensive player, he's worked on his details, and he's very responsible defensively.
"It looks like he's ready."
Like Savoie, Howard was always going to be given an extended runway to make this team. The Oilers acquired the 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner from Tampa Bay in July in the hopes of adding some youth and tertiary scoring to the mix.
"I don't feel like I'm a young kid," Howard said. "I'm 21 years old. I played three years in college. I've got a pretty sturdy base."
Howard was a bit underwhelming in the rookie games, but both he and Knoblauch have felt he's progressed nicely since then.
"As the games get better, the competition and the stakes rise, I feel like that suits my game the best," Howard said.
As with Savoie, Knoblauch has been steadfast in his view that Howard should start the season in a depth role and work his way up. Improving his puck protection and making the next play is an area of emphasis. But there will be opportunities for more prime minutes.
On Sunday, Howard got to play left wing on a line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Andrew Mangiapane, a spot likely reserved for Vasily Podkolzin, who was on personal leave. Knoblauch felt Howard fit in nicely. He then had Howard with Mangiapane and Adam Henrique as part of a scaled-down lineup in Seattle on Wednesday. Knoblauch has also talked about putting Howard on the second power-play unit.
Howard is tied for the team preseason scoring lead with four points. Knoblauch is convinced he can find him enough ice time to succeed in the regular season, especially with more needed from other lines when Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are together.
The way GM Stan Bowman sees it, the coaching staff can give him a role and help build him up.
"The NHL game is different. It's certainly harder than college hockey, and it's a step up from the American League," he said. "Learning to deal with the rigours of the league is part of that process."
Philp was the darling of training camp a year ago after sitting out the 2023-24 season for personal reasons. He was one of the final cuts and eventually got three recalls, recording two assists in 15 games with the Oilers.
He became a bit of an afterthought for this season after the Oilers signed journeyman Curtis Lazar as a free agent and acquired Howard. But there's this little thing called waivers, and the 27-year-old is eligible for the first time in his career.
"I'd love to (make the team)," Philp said. "That's why I'm here. That's the goal."
Philp has been effective during the preseason. He said he wants to be a bit more potent offensively this season and has shown that with four points in as many games. He's been working on his faceoffs with assistant coach Paul McFarland. He's been in the PK mix and is a defensively conscious player at five-on-five.
"We want guys that play the right way, especially in the bottom six, giving us some physicality and speed and size," Knoblauch said. "He fits that bill.
"He's been checking a lot of boxes right now. Hopefully, as we get going, he can check all of them."
Philp's emergence puts David Tomasek, Janmark and Lazar on notice.
Tomasek has settled into the third-line centre slot behind McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins. He's been used in Hyman's net-front spot on the power play. The only reason he's even mentioned here is because he's waiver-exempt. The odds of him not being with the Oilers by next Wednesday are low.
Janmark remains a coach's favourite and is valued on the PK and to protect leads. Providing he's healthy, it's likely he's on the roster.
That leaves Lazar. He can play both centre and wing. He can also kill penalties. But the Oilers seem to be more inclined to value the player who's three years younger. Bowman mentioned Philp by name on Wednesday when it comes to growth potential this season.
Though Philp wasn't able to play in Seattle due to illness, he was on the ice Thursday and could be an option Friday in Vancouver.
Conventional wisdom heading into training camp was that the Oilers would probably have a decent chance to sneak Regula through waivers at some point during the preseason. After all, he's 25, has appeared in just 22 NHL games and didn't play at all last season because of a knee problem.
Well, the chances of that happening now appear to be dwindling by the day.
Regula's latest appearance was excellent. Paired with veteran Darnell Nurse in Seattle on Wednesday, Regula skated 19:23, including 3:06 while short-handed. He's been impressive in exhibition play.
"One thing we like is he's a big body. He covers up a lot of space with reach," Knoblauch said. "His puck play's been really sharp for a guy who hasn't played very much (lately)."
The Oilers don't want to lose Regula. Bowman traded for him in Chicago years ago and claimed him off waivers last November. There's a real feeling that Regula can be a roster player and part of the future. The Oilers gave him a two-year contract in the offseason for that reason.
Keeping Regula off the wire potentially puts fellow right-shot blueliners Ty Emberson and Troy Stecher in the crosshairs.
Emberson, 25, is younger and has been paired most often with Brett Kulak. It seems he has a leg up on Stecher, 31, who's been without a steady partner. What Stecher has going for him is his competitiveness, ability to play both sides and effective chemistry in a pinch with Nurse.