Edmonton Oilers News

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however, Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.

Skinner allowed four goals on 16 shots after replacing Jack Campbell in the Oilers' blowout loss in Vancouver on Wednesday. Campbell surprisingly got the start but didn't last long, however Skinner didn't fare any better. The Oilers will get Mattias Ekholm back on the blueline tonight, which should help Skinner's cause, but the Oilers need to be much better as a team on Saturday. Skinner was 1-1-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .897 SV% in two games vs. the Canucks last season.

Things look promising for Ekholm, who is listed as a game-time decision, to make his season debut on Saturday as he was participating regularly in drills alongside Evan Bouchard. Ekholm had 14 points (4G / 10A) in 21 games for the Oilers last season after being traded from the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline.

Stecher was signed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract by Arizona during the offseason but will be the odd-man out for the Coyotes' first game vs. New Jersey. The 29-year-old defensemen had three goals, 11 assists, 88 SOG, 44 PIMs and a -6 plus/minus in 81 games played with both Arizona and Calgary in 2022-23. He is entering his eighth NHL season and should find himself in the Coyotes' lineup more often than not.

Podkolzin recorded seven points (4G / 3A) in 39 games with Vancouver last season to go with 18 points (7G / 11A) in 28 games with Abbotsford (AHL). Vancouver's first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft will likely see time between both squads again this season. Akito Hirose was recalled from Abbotsford but is unlikely to see much playing time with Vancouver's recent addition of Sam Lafferty.

The Oilers' second-round pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft is currently in his third season with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. The talented defenseman has three points (1G / 2A) in four games with the Colts this season.

Ekholm practiced on Friday but said he can't say for sure that he'll be ready for opening night and that the injury has taken longer to heal that he originally thought. Philip Broberg will likely suit up if Ekholm can't play against the Canucks on Wednesday.

Stonehouse impressed as an undrafted free agent at the Oilers' rookie camp and has earned himself a three-year, entry-level contract with Edmonton. The 19-year-old right-winger had 37 goals, 20 assists, 66 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus in 68 games played last season with Ottawa (OHL). He has rejoined the 67's for the 2023-24 season but is now officially part of the Oilers organization.

Emberson was placed on waivers by the New York Rangers and has been claimed by San Jose on Saturday. The 23-year-old defenseman has yet to appear in any NHL games in his career but was a 2018 third-round (73rd overall) draft pick to Arizona. In 2022-23 he had seven goals, 20 assists, 27 PIMs and a +17 plus/minus through 69 games with Hartford (AHL).

Savoie suffered the injury just one shift into the Sabres' Prospect Showcase on Monday. Savoie will miss the start of training camp and will likely start the 2023-24 season in the AHL. The 19-year-old is one of the Sabres' top prospects and is coming off of a season where he had 95 points (38G / 57A) in 62 games with the Winnipeg Ice (WHL).

Frederic enjoyed a breakout season with the Bruins in 2022-23 with 17 goals, 14 assists, 120 SOG, 57 PIMs and a +28 plus/minus while playing a bottom-six role and has signed a two-year, $4.6 million contract extension ($2,300,000 AAV). The 25-year-old centre was Boston's 2016 first-round pick (29th overall) and has collected 29 goals, 54 points and 194 PIMs across 198 career NHL games.

Regula failed to pick up a point across four NHL games in 2022-23 but was a -3 plus/minus and had four PIMs and has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with Boston. The 22-year-old defenseman's rights were acquired by Boston as a piece in the deal which saw Taylor Hall land in Chicago and he brings a goal, 21 SOG and 16 PIMs across 22 career NHL games to the Bruins.

Rodrigue was 14-14-1 with a .912 SV% and 2.77 GAA with the Bakersfield Condors (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract extension worth $775,000 AAV. The 22-year-old net minder was Edmonton's 2018 second-round pick (62nd overall) and has yet to see any time in the NHL but has racked up 53 appearances in three years of AHL action.

Stecher returns to the Coyotes after being dealt to the Flames as a rental at the 2023 trade deadline. The 29-year-old blueliner finished the season with 14 points (3G / 11A) in 81 games and brings a veteran presence to a Coyotes' blueline that is mainly young and inexperienced.

Regula failed to pick up a point across four NHL games in 2022-23 but was a -3 plus/minus and had four PIMs and has had his rights traded alongside Ian Mitchell's rights to Boston for forwards Taylor Hall and the rights to Nick Foligno. The 22-year-old is currently a UFA and has played in 22 NHL games across three seasons, picking up a goal and 16 PIMs.

Grubbe had 18 goals, 49 assists, 71 PIMs and a +10 plus/minus through 64 games with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) this season and has had his rights traded from the New York Rangers to the Edmonton Oilers for a 2023 fifth-round pick. The 20-year-old has yet to sign an NHL contract but is expected to after spending three years as Red Deer's captain.