Incoming glut of talented fowards for Edmonton Oilers. Who will have to sit?

The days are ticking down until four injured Edmonton Oilers return to the line-up. Each of the four regulars was expected to be a key forward on the team heading into the 2026-27 season.

When Zach Hyman, Colton Dach, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and, eventually, Matt Savoie return to the Oilers roster, four players currently getting ice time and participating in Edmonton’s solid run of early season play, will have to sit.

Who will that be?

That’s up for debate, with Oilers fans and commentators having their opinions, but having no vote. Coach Mike Babcock has indicated who he favours with his ice-time allotment. Babcock also has the only real vote.

Babcock said when injuries hit that they weren’t a huge blow, but represented a chance for other players to step up and show what they can bring.

That has now happened.

When it comes to centres, Owen Michaels has the second most amount of ice time of any centre on the team, but his results at even strength have been mixed.

He’s won a good number of faceoffs, 52.6 per cent, but he’s leaked a fair number of scoring chances against. Babcock seems decided that Michaels is a better player than Josh Samanski, and Michaels also kills penalties. I’d be shocked if Samanski is kept here over Michaels — even as Samanski has a better faceoff percentage, 57.1 per cent and has had better results at even strength.

But when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and big Colton Dach return, I could see Dach playing and Michaels and Samanski sitting, with Dach at fourth line centre.

When Zach Hyman and Matt Savoie return, two wingers will have to sit.

Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen, Hyman, Savoie, and newcomer Mathieu Joseph are all locks to be in the line-up. The battle for two spots on the fourth line will come down to newcomers Filip Hallander, Ike Howard and Alex Formenton and veterans Max Jones and Trent Frederic.

It’s an easy choice to send Howard back to the AHL. He’s yet to establish himself as a steady two-way player at the NHL level.

I can see Jones also sitting and maybe being sent through waivers to the AHL. If the Oilers had been set on Jones, I doubt they would have traded for Hallander.

Formenton has shown flashes of speed and skill, but he also has had his defensive woes. Still, given he’s on the PK, I think Formenton will stick in the line-up, as will Frederic, who has played solid and rugged two-way hockey in limited minutes.

Hallander will likely stick around as the 13th forward, with Samanski, Howard and maybe even Michaels sent to the AHL.

As for Jones, where he ends up will be determined in part if the Oilers are ready to risk putting him on waivers. If that happens, there’s a decent chance he’ll be claimed, given his large size, solid hitting and decent puck play in a fourth line role.

Of course, the Oilers could also be hit with a new round of injuries, opening up more roster spots.

For now, it’s good that GM Stan Bowman has brought in so many useful veterans who can succeed in a two-way role.

It also seems that the injuries have demonstrated to Babcock that he’s got solid depth and a number of decent Bottom 6 forwards who can help out in a pinch.