Sabres Could Scratch Jiri Kulich
Oct. 15: The message has evidently been received for Kulich, who will be in the lineup tonight after all, Ruff told reporters this morning. “If you really want to know, he’s playing,” Ruff told Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News. “I want to see his response tonight.”
Oct. 14: In yet another brutal start for the Buffalo Sabres, who are 0-3, young forward Jiri Kulich has caught blame from Head Coach Lindy Ruff and could be scratched, as mentioned by the Times Herald’s Bill Hoppe earlier today.
The 21-year-old forward has had a rough go of it so far this season, with no points in three games and a -4 rating. As Ruff told Hoppe, Kulich “hasn’t been good enough”, noting that his skating has not been at the level it was last year. In practice today, Kulich was seen with Jordan Greenway and Mason Geertsen. As Hoppe wrote, it is not exactly a promising sign for the youngster in advance of tomorrow’s game vs Ottawa.
Despite the struggles and dissatisfaction from his coach, Kulich has not played less than 16 minutes a night so far in each of the club’s games. Although sheltering a young former first-round pick who doesn’t appear ready is not necessarily the wrong move, Ruff’s comments are interesting, throwing such blame at Kulich when the team has scored just two goals all season. Thankfully, Zach Benson is expected back tomorrow; however, with Josh Norris out long-term, it has been a terrible start for the Sabres. With the Senators set to move forward without their injured star captain Brady Tkachuk, tomorrow’s game will be a huge opportunity for Buffalo to finally get into the win column.
Many eyes will turn to stars such as Tage Thompson and Rasmus Dahlin to lead Buffalo out of the hole they find themselves in, but unfortunately, without Norris, it will be an uphill battle. If they prove unable to do so, at some point, it may be time to look at the team’s deeper issues than a player such as Kulich’s performance, and major changes could be on the horizon.
Devils Place Zack MacEwen On Injured Reserve, Recall Nico Daws
The Devils announced they’ve placed winger Zack MacEwen on injured reserve with the previously reported undisclosed injury that has him out indefinitely. New Jersey recalled goaltender Nico Daws from AHL Utica in a corresponding move.
MacEwen is a new addition to the organization, having been acquired from the Senators nearly two weeks ago in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid. He landed on waivers the following day and was not on the Devils’ opening roster submission, but was recalled anyway before their first game of the season. He was scratched for that contest but entered the lineup on Oct. 11 against the Lightning in place of Evgenii Dadonov, who’s now on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a hand injury in the opener. MacEwen skated 7:12 against Tampa, recording a block, a hit, and a pair of shots, until his undisclosed injury forced him out of the game in the third period.
While there’s no firm timeline, head coach Sheldon Keefe‘s implication was that MacEwen will miss more than the seven days mandated for an IR placement. His placement is backdated to the date of the injury, so he could be technically eligible to return on Saturday against the Oilers, but he’s likely looking at a multi-week absence. With Dadonov and Stefan Noesen already on LTIR and IR and Juho Lammikko still dealing with an undisclosed injury despite being on the active roster, MacEwen’s injury only further stresses New Jersey’s forward depth. Brian Halonen, who made his season debut on the fourth line against the Blue Jackets on Monday after being the corresponding recall for Dadonov’s LTIR placement, will now continue to fill that role for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, there’s no surprise in seeing New Jersey add a goalie to the roster ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Panthers. They’re dealing with question marks for both backup Jake Allen, who started against Columbus but left after two periods due to cramping, and No. 1 option Jacob Markström, who entered in relief for the win but showed signs of discomfort after being collided with late in the game. There’s no final determination on either’s status for tomorrow yet, but giving Daws a start and letting the veterans rest would be a prudent move, even if only a precautionary one.
There was speculation that New Jersey may carry the 24-year-old Daws on the opening night roster to avoid placing him on waivers, but he ended up clearing them without incident early last week. The up-and-coming Canadian is in the back half of a two-year, $1.625MM deal and makes a one-way salary of $850K this season. A 2020 third-round pick, he’s firmly entrenched as the Devils’ third-stringer for now. He made four starts and two relief appearances last year, going 3-1-0 with a .939 SV% and 1.60 GAA for his best stretch of play yet. That makes him one of the more intriguing call-up options around the league despite dwindling minor-league numbers over the past few seasons.
Daws also carries far more experience than his age-group comparables. Injuries to New Jersey’s crease forced him into extended action, recording 20-plus starts in each of the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons. He has a 22-23-1 career record with a 2.98 GAA and .898 SV%, just a few ticks below league average. He’s made one start for Utica this season, recording a 1.03 GAA and .963 SV% in a loss.
Adin Hill Leaves Game Due To Injury
A rough sequence from tonight’s game in Calgary has dealt a blow to the Golden Knights. Vegas’ starting goaltender Adin Hill left after the first period due to a lower body injury, as noted by Jesse Granger of The Athletic.
First, Hill appeared shaken up due to a shot that knocked his mask off, but in the following scrum, the 29-year-old seemed bothered by a lower body ailment as well. Akira Schmid took the crease to start the second period for the Golden Knights.
As mentioned by Granger, Carter Hart will become eligible to sign with a team tomorrow, but will not be able to play until December. The Knights have been speculated as a possible fit in the past, and while the hope is certainly that Hill will not be sidelined for long, it will be interesting to follow what comes next.
Matvei Michkov Seeing Fewer Minutes In Slow Start
Having yet to record a point in the Flyers’ first three games, Kevin Kurz of The Athletic wrote earlier today on Matvei Michkov’s early season struggles. The ultra-talented Russian has been lightly benched at times by new Head Coach Rick Tocchet. Although this may raise some eyebrows, there are reasons for this outside of his play alone, as noted by Kurz.
Philadelphia broke into the win column yesterday, pulling away late from the defending champion Panthers. While such a triumph could be encouraging, it is key to mention that Florida opted to start backup goalie Daniil Tarasov. As the Flyers sit at a bit of a crossroads this season, trying to etch a new identity with a roster that finally offers real youth, the 20-year-old Russian is their biggest piece for the future. Michkov led all rookies in goals in 2024-2025, with an impressive 63 points, all during a bit of a tumultuous season for the Black and Orange.
Therefore, a scoreless first three games for Michkov isn’t ideal, along with falling ice time, down to 14:26. Interestingly, fellow young Russian Nikita Grebenkin appeared in Michkov’s place on a line with Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny in crunch time vs Florida. However, Tocchet emphasized that the swap was primarily to reward Grebenkin, who has made an impression so far.
Additionally, there are other factors which have worked against Michkov, painting a picture perhaps a bit misleading. Tocchet mentioned that he has been getting up to speed from an ankle ailment over the summer, along with the fact that the Flyers have been highly penalized, often keeping their young star off the ice. Finally, Tocchet is wanting to implement an approach of balancing up-and-down the lineup, as the club searches for their identity. Philadelphia has made it clear that they will move into the future still leaning into their gritty playing style as always, but they will need to ensure it does not stunt the development of a potential offensive superstar.
With all of this in mind, Tocchet’s utilization of Michkov will be interesting to monitor, but just three games in, it is still too soon to sound the alarms. With Michkov’s ability, it is likely just a matter of time.
Evening Notes: Brunicke, Crozier, Hurricanes
The Penguins announced tonight that young defenseman Harrison Brunicke will not play tonight versus Anaheim. Brunicke has looked the part in his first three NHL games, notching a goal, but at just 19-years-old, the Penguins are taking it easy with their key prospect. Although fans may be disappointed, the silver lining is that Kris Letang could return. New Head Coach Dan Muse emphasized the need to put Brunicke along with fellow youngster Ben Kindel in positions to succeed, and given his strong pedigree coaching across junior, collegiate, and professional hockey, it seems the Penguins have the right eyes on their young prospects, as they face a fascinating crossroads which will play out this season.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Lightning have announced mid-game that defenseman Max Crozier will not return due to injury. The 25-year-old more unassuming player, who has spent most of his professional career in the AHL after being drafted 120th overall in 2019, has been off to a great start for Tampa Bay this season with three assists in as many games. Further details on the severity of the injury are unknown at this time.
- On today’s episode of Bleacher Report’s Insider Notebook, Insider Frank Seravalli said that the Carolina Hurricanes are watching the waiver wire closely for goalies, and that it would be no surprise if the team made some sort of move for one. Thankfully for the team, Frederik Andersen has won both games so far, but given his injury history, along with Pyotr Kochetkov’s inconsistency and current injury, the Canes could be looking for more stability. Carolina claimed Brandon Bussi on waivers earlier this month, but as a 27-year-old yet to debut in the NHL, and with AHL numbers which don’t necessarily jump off the page, GM Eric Tulsky could have another trick up his sleeve soon; especially if the team wants to reach new heights come spring.
Pacific Notes: Oilers, Sherwood, Kings, Golden Knights
The Edmonton Oilers, who were hit by the injury bug out of the gate, have a number of players expected back soon. Mark Spector of Sportsnet shared today that Head Coach Kris Knoblauch “hopes” that Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula are set to return this weekend, Jake Walman next Thursday, and finally, Zach Hyman’s November 1st estimated return is still on track.
Hyman originally suffered a very untimely major wrist injury in last year’s Western Conference Finals. Meanwhile, newcomer Andrew Mangiapane is off to a hot start with 2 goals, in the coveted seat of Connor McDavid’s wing. It will be interesting to see how the Oil work Hyman back into the lineup, along with the recent addition of Jack Roslovic.
Walman and Janmark have both been out with undisclosed injuries not thought to be serious. Regula has appeared in both of the Oilers’ games to start the season, but is out tonight with yet another undisclosed injury. The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers from Boston last year, offering imposing size and a right handed shot, filling a bottom-pair role perhaps missed by the team since the departure of Vincent Desharnais.
Elsewhere across the division:
- In an article published by The Fourth Period earlier today, referencing word from their own David Pagnotta, Kiefer Sherwood and the Canucks have not begun contract discussions yet. A late-bloomer who established himself as a full-time NHLer with Nashville, Sherwood signed with Vancouver last season on a two-year deal and took another step, posting 40 points, and most notably, breaking the NHL single-season record for hits. Sherwood is a prototypical fourth liner in today’s game, and perhaps the club is feeling out his performance this year before they take next steps toward a considerable pay increase.
- The Kings have updates of their own; as Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet shared on today’s episode of the FAN Hockey Show, that star Adrian Kempe wants to stay. Friedman said that talks had been in the $9-10MM range, but now, given the market explosion, it could go higher. The 29-year-old broke out in a steal of a 4-year deal at $5.5MM which finally ends this season. Additionally, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period also shared that the team is in no rush with an extension for young standout Brandt Clarke, as published today. Given such huge contracts given out to Luke Hughes and Lane Hutson, the Kings will be content to play the long game and see how Clarke’s season unfolds.
- SinBin.vegas noted tonight from the Golden Knights Insider Show, that forward Brett Howden will be out of tonight’s game in Calgary, and Cole Reinhardt will make his Vegas debut. It is not clear if it is an injury or scratch for Howden, who has one goal in the team’s first three games. Reinhardt signed a two-year deal coming over from the Senators, where he spent most time in the AHL, but notched two points in 17 games for the big club last year.
East Notes: Luchanko, Benson, Slavin
According to a new article from Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff, the Philadelphia Flyers aren’t expected to retain Jett Luchanko for the duration of the season if he doesn’t rise out of a fourth-line role. While Philadelphia’s front office believes Luchanko could “hold his own” in a bottom-six role, they will need to see a breakout from him if they’re to keep him beyond the nine-game threshold, which would burn the first year off of his entry-level contract.
The breakout the Flyers were expecting to see hasn’t come yet. The former 13th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Draft has gone scoreless through his first two games of the season, averaging 8:15 of ice time. Still, it’s difficult to see a pathway upward for Luchanko even if he does perform better, especially if they’re adamant on keeping him at the center position.
There’s little chance of the Flyers breaking up the line of Tyson Foerster, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink, which has become a solid identity line for the team. The Flyers could conceivably move Trevor Zegras back to the wing, though they were steadfast in their belief that he could be a center when they acquired him this past summer. Further, given his defensive value and play in the faceoff dot, they’re unlikely to isolate Sean Couturier to fourth-line minutes.
Given the situation in front of him and the minimal time to accomplish such a task, it’s more than likely that Philadelphia will reassign Luchanko back to the OHL’s Guelph Storm in the next week or two. Unfortunately, despite his unenviable situation, he wouldn’t be entering a better situation in Guelph. Although he’d command far more playing time, the Storm aren’t expected to be a competitive team this season.
Other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Although he wasn’t put on the team’s injured reserve to start the season, Zach Benson has yet to make his debut with the Buffalo Sabres this year. That’s expected to change tomorrow. According to Bill Hoppe of the Times Herald, Benson is likely to enter the lineup tomorrow night against the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, unless he has found another offensive level to his game, Benson shouldn’t be expected to help with the Sabres’ offensive woes to begin the campaign. Through his first two years, he’s scored 21 goals and 58 points in 146 games, averaging 14:40 of ice time.
- Yesterday, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that defenseman Jaccob Slavin is suffering from a lower-body injury, but were relatively vague regarding the severity. Today, in a small update, head coach Rod Brind’Amour said, “He went for some more testing. I think we’re just going to keep him out for a while. I don’t think it’s super serious, but he doesn’t quite feel right. So, for right now, he’s not on this trip.“
Canucks Reassign Braeden Cootes, To Recall Max Sasson
According to head coach Adam Foote (per Sportsnet’s Brendan Batchelor), the Vancouver Canucks will reassign forward Braeden Cootes to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. Vancouver will recall forward Max Sasson from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks in a corresponding roster move. The Canucks confirmed Cootes’s reassignment, but didn’t do the same with Sasson’s recall.
So ends Cootes’s improbable run to the Canucks roster to start the 2025-26 campaign. Vancouver selected Cootes with the 15th overall pick of this past summer’s draft, and he cracked the team’s opening night roster after an impressive training camp and preseason. On October 9th, Cootes became the first 18-year-old to play for the Canucks since fellow first-round selection, Petr Nedvěd in 1990.
His debut will end after three games. The Sherwood Park, Alberta native went scoreless, earning a -2 rating while averaging 10:47 of ice time in a largely sheltered role. Further, his 28.1% CorsiFor% at even strength and -1.8 Expected +/- indicates that Cootes may not have been as ready for the show as previously believed. Ahead of an upcoming five-game road trip, it has become the right time to move Cootes into a more comfortable environment.
He won’t have to travel very far to rejoin his old team. Located approximately 140 miles south of Vancouver, Cootes will continue his season with the Thunderbirds, where he scored 26 goals and 63 points in 60 games as the team’s captain. He was even more impressive on Team Canada for the U18 World Junior Championships, scoring six goals and 12 points in seven games, and capturing the gold medal against Team Sweden.
Replacing Cootes in the lineup will be a familiar face from last season. Sasson played in 29 games for the Canucks last year, scoring three goals and seven points while averaging 10:20 of ice time per game. Although he didn’t offer much on offense, he was an exceptional defensive forward, managing a 92.1% on-ice save percentage at even strength. Still, he may have another offensive gear to his game, considering he finished last year with 13 goals and 32 points in 41 games with AHL Abbotsford.
Summer Synopsis: Edmonton Oilers
With the regular season now upon us, the bulk of the heavy lifting has been done from a roster perspective. Most unrestricted free agents have found new homes, the arbitration period has come and gone, and the trade market has cooled. Accordingly, it’s a good time to take a look at what each team accomplished over the offseason. Next up is a look at the Oilers.
The Oilers have experienced heartbreak in each of the past two seasons and are optimistic that this year they can finally secure the last few wins needed to reach 16. Goaltending has been the team’s Achilles’ heel in recent years, and whether it’s popular or not, general manager Stan Bowman and his team are committed to that approach in hopes of a different result this time. On paper, the Oilers lost significant depth this summer by trading away high-paid underperforming players to redirect funds towards their star players. It’s not ideal, but that’s how the NHL salary cap functions, and Edmonton has managed it well enough to keep its stars under contract for the foreseeable future.
Draft
3-83 – RW Tommy Lafrenière, Kamloops (WHL)
4-117 – F David Lewandowski, Saskatoon (WHL)
5-131 – D Asher Barnett, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
6-191 – G Daniel Salonen, Lukko U20 (Liiga)
7-223 – C Aidan Park, Green Bay (USHL)
The Oilers didn’t have much in the way of draft capital for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but they did come away with five players. Lafrenière projects as a potential middle-six forward with versatility across various roles. He could provide the Oilers with some depth scoring at the bottom of their lineup and fill a penalty-killing role if he develops into the player Edmonton is hoping he will become. Lafrenière can play either center or wing, but given his size, he might be better suited to the wing. He sees the ice well and has a good ability to anticipate how a play will develop, which allows him to beat the puck to various areas of the ice. He’ll be a competitor for the Oilers, but he can get pushed around and will need to fill out more if he hopes to stay in the NHL.
Lewandowski projects as a potential middle-six forward, but that would likely be his ceiling given that his skating is a limiting factor. His stride is a bit awkward, and he lacks the explosiveness you’d expect from a forward playing at or near the top of the lineup. Despite that, there is plenty to like in Lewandowski’s game: he protects the puck well and doesn’t hesitate to take a hit to make a play. He possesses good hockey sense, versatility, and is responsible defensively, which could be his ticket to becoming an everyday NHL player.
Trade Acquisitions
LW Isaac Howard (from Tampa Bay)
G Connor Ingram (from Utah)
The expectations for Howard are high in Edmonton after he won the Hobey Baker Award last year as the top NCAA men’s hockey player. The 21-year-old isn’t a finished product at all, which means the Oilers will have their work cut out for them if they decide to use him in the NHL. Howard is an excellent skater and puck handler who can play in tight spaces, making plays to set up teammates. He can also put the puck in the net, having scored 26 goals in 37 games last season.
There is no guarantee that Howard will make the NHL, and his game does have some shortcomings. The first is his size. Howard tends to shy away from board play, and this flaw could very well be exposed this season. His puck handling is good; however, he sometimes struggles under pressure and may need to improve his ice vision or wait that extra second to absorb a hit and make a play.
The Oilers’ goaltending struggles have been well-documented, and they have been unable to address them in any meaningful way. It was reasonable to assume Edmonton would look for a third-string goaltender, and they made that move when Ingram became available. The 28-year-old has had a couple of decent seasons in Arizona and could serve as a good backup for the Oilers if their top two netminders falter. Ingram probably isn’t going to dominate, but he’s a capable NHL goalie who could get hot, and that’s about the best the Oilers can hope for, given their salary cap constraints.
UFA Signings
F Curtis Lazar (one year, $775K)
F Andrew Mangiapane (two years, $7.2MM)
F Jack Roslovic (one year, $1.5MM)
D Riley Stillman (two years, $1.55MM)*
G Matt Tomkins (two years, $1.55MM)*
*-denotes two-way contract
^-denotes re-signing
There is a lot to like about the Mangiapane signing in Edmonton. The 29-year-old forward can play on either side of the ice, which should give the Oilers some flexibility in their winger deployment. Mangiapane can also provide top-six minutes or slot into the bottom two lines, depending on what the team requires. He should give the Oilers speed, a strong forecheck, and tenacity, making things challenging for opponents and offering Edmonton an offensive forward who can also kill penalties and play some defense. The contract for Mangiapane is relatively modest at $3.6MM per year, and if he can return to his offensive numbers from a few seasons ago, it will be a real bargain.
Beyond Mangiapane, the Roslovic signing could also work out well for Edmonton. The 28-year-old can skate and score, which should fit in well with the rest of Edmonton’s forwards. Off the puck, Roslovic won’t do much as his defensive play is often a concern. But if he can produce offense the way he’s capable of, it will help offset some of his game’s weaknesses.
Many folks will criticize signing players like Roslovic and Mangiapane instead of focusing on goaltending. Still, the truth is that impact goalies weren’t available in free agency, and many trade market options had as many, if not more, flaws than Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
RFA Re-Signings
F Vasily Podkolzin (three years, $8.85MM)
D Evan Bouchard (four years, $42MM)
F Noah Philp (one year, $775K)*
LW Roby Jarventie (one year, $775K)*
*-denotes two-way contract
The Oilers prioritized signing Bouchard before free agency opened, and it was clear they feared an offer sheet, even though one was unlikely to happen given the high compensation needed to secure a deal with the talented defenseman. Simply put, Edmonton couldn’t afford to have Bouchard’s contract fall outside their comfort zone, nor could they afford to lose him. The 25-year-old has been a key player for the Oilers, tilting the ice in their favor and posting excellent offensive numbers. His defensive play isn’t perfect, and he does have the occasional blunder, but he more than compensates with his overall performance, which remains unmatched mainly in today’s NHL.
The Oilers chose to extend Podkolzin a year early, which was a decisive vote of confidence for the 24-year-old. Podkolzin scored eight goals and 16 assists in 82 games last season but demonstrated considerable versatility and provided Edmonton with glimpses of the upside that made him their tenth overall pick in 2019. He led the team with 211 hits and was very effective in plays, registering 10 points in 22 games. If Podkolzin has a breakout season this year, the Oilers could have saved a lot of money in the future, but even if his numbers stay similar to last season, his value remains high given all the intangibles he offers.
Departures
F Viktor Arvidsson (traded to Boston)
D Ronnie Attard (signed with Colorado, one year $775K)*
F Connor Brown (signed with New Jersey, four years $12MM)
F Drake Caggiula (signed in Switzerland)
D Connor Carrick (signed in Switzerland)
G Collin Delia (signed in Sweden)
LW Evander Kane (traded to Vancouver)
D Philip Kemp (signed with Pittsburgh, two years $1.55MM)*
D John Klingberg (signed with San Jose, one year $4MM)
C Lane Pederson (signed with Philadelphia, one year $775K)*
F Jacob Perreault (signed in AHL)
F Corey Perry (signed with Los Angeles, one year $2MM)
C Sam O’Reilly (traded to Tampa Bay)
G Olivier Rodrigue (signed in KHL, contract terminated)
F Derek Ryan (retired)
F Jeff Skinner (signed with San Jose, one year $3MM)
RW Cameron Wright (signed in Finland)
*-denotes two-way contract
The Oilers saw a parade of veterans leave this summer due to salary cap constraints and individual success, which priced many of their forwards out of the lineup. Perry moved to Los Angeles, and while he is now a depth forward in his career, he has been very effective. Perry doesn’t score many goals, but he is a disruptive agitator who has unsettled opposing teams in the past two playoff runs. The Oilers will miss his tenacity come playoff time, as the Perry the Oilers brought to the lineup is not easily replaceable.
Brown is another depth forward the Oilers might miss. He also didn’t score much, but he was a good skater for a bottom-six role, providing the Oilers with a defensively responsible forward who could also kill penalties. Brown was also a good transition player, which is something the Oilers might miss given their style of play.
Skinner signed with the Oilers in San Jose after an uneven season. The 33-year-old scored 16 goals and 13 assists in 72 games and didn’t seem like a good fit. Skinner’s skill set, while valuable, didn’t align well with the speedy Oilers, and while he can still shoot and pass effectively, he looked lost at times and wasn’t a significant factor in the playoffs, appearing in just five games and posting 2 points. Losing Skinner probably won’t have too much impact on the Oilers, given the poor fit, but there was a chance for him to be an effective player in Edmonton, and for some reason, it just didn’t work out.
Kane was traded to Vancouver in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Salary cap concerns clearly drove the move, as Kane remains a productive, albeit imperfect, forward. Kane performed decently in the playoffs last year after missing the entire regular season, but had an abysmal showing in the Stanley Cup Final, as did most of his teammates. Kane had one year left on his contract and will be a motivated player in Vancouver as he searches for what could be his final NHL contract. For the Oilers, they lose a top-six player who probably wasn’t part of the team’s future after this year and likely believed they could replace his production with Mangiapane, for two-thirds of the price.
Salary Cap Outlook
The Oilers have very little cap space entering this season, as PuckPedia projects they will have only $325K available, making injury call-ups challenging and complicating management’s ability to address Edmonton’s apparent goaltending issues. The Oilers have Zach Hyman on LTIR, but even with that, their cap room remains nearly exhausted.
For next summer, the Oilers have approximately $17.67MM in cap space with 16 players already signed. Given the challenges they’ve faced in net, that would be a good opportunity for Edmonton to address the goaltending issue that has long plagued them.
Key Questions
Can the Oilers finally go all the way?
The Oilers have lost in two straight finals and are likely a weaker team than they were in previous seasons. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but it does mean they’ll have their work cut out for them. Despite losing a chunk of their depth this summer, the Oilers remain a skilled, battle-tested team eager to claim a championship that has eluded them over the past two years. The window hasn’t slammed shut for the Oilers, but they only have so many runs left and will be hungry to secure a title.
Will the goaltending hold up?
It’s no secret that the Oilers’ goaltending has been mediocre to below average for several seasons now. While they’ve largely been able to outscore their issues in the crease, goaltending has still been their weakness, and it might well be the same case this season. It’s not fair to assume that Skinner and Pickard will falter this year, but considering their recent performances, it would be irresponsible to expect anything better than average. That raises the question: if the Oilers make a deep playoff run, can their goaltending hold up, or will it let them down once again?
How will they replace the depth scoring they lost?
The Oilers had many veterans in their lineup last season who left this past summer for more money than they could get in Edmonton. While it didn’t create significant gaps, it definitely weakened a strong forward group and reduced the Oilers’ overall depth. With limited cap space, few promising prospects, and little draft capital, the question is: How will they replace the depth they lost this summer?
Photo by Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
Senators Place Donovan Sebrango On Waivers
The Senators have placed defenseman Donovan Sebrango on waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. That opens a roster spot for winger Drake Batherson, who’s ticketed to come off IR before tomorrow’s game, meaning they don’t necessarily have to place Brady Tkachuk immediately on IR following today’s news that he’ll miss at least a month with an injury to his right wrist.
Sebrango, 23, is in his third season with the Sens organization. He was acquired from the Red Wings in 2023’s Alex DeBrincat trade. He split his first year between the AHL and ECHL before rocketing up Ottawa’s depth chart in 2024-25, serving as an alternate captain for AHL Belleville while even securing a handful of recalls and his NHL debut.
He had a strong enough training camp to work his way onto Ottawa’s opening roster submission and was even in their opening night lineup over offseason trade pickup Jordan Spence. The Sens have been carrying eight defensemen this year, and Sebrango, a lefty, earned a spot with most of his organizational depth competitors being righties. In his four NHL appearances over the last several months, though, he hasn’t shown much. He’s got no points, a -2 rating, no blocks, and one hit while averaging 12:46 per game. For someone who doesn’t provide much offense and has had poor relative possession impacts in his pair of outings this year, that lack of physicality is a sinker. The Sens ended up scratching Sebrango for yesterday’s loss, allowing Spence to make his season debut.
Sebrango was a fine point producer in juniors. The pandemic forced him to make an early jump to pro hockey in Detroit’s system, likely stunting his development. He seemed to get things on track in the minors last year after a few years of bouncing between leagues, managing a career-best 8-12–20 scoring line in 50 games.
He’ll now be available for anyone to claim over the next 24 hours. He sat as a restricted free agent for most of the offseason before signing a two-way deal in September. He costs $775K against the cap, makes $140K in the minors, and will be an RFA next summer with arbitration eligibility. That latter part could serve as a claim deterrent.