Edmonton Oilers head coach Mike Babcock is about to get the reinforcements he and his team could really use.
Though it’s been an exceptionally strong start to the season for the Oilers, they have had to rely far too heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl once again, something Babcock acknowledged following Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth.
In the Oilers’ defence, this isn’t exactly a depth issue, but rather an injury one. They’ve been super banged-up all season long, and were without several regulars up front in Thursday’s loss, including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Jason Dickinson, Matt Savoie, and Colton Dach.
Thankfully for the Oilers fan base, it sounds as though four of those five, along with defenceman Jake Walman, are expected to return to the lineup in the near future.
As per Sports 1440’s Jason Gregor, the Oilers are expecting Zach Hyman back in the lineup on Saturday in a rematch against the Mammoth. The 34-year-old has logged just one game so far this season.
Hyman isn’t the only face that could return to the Oilers lineup tomorrow night, either, as it sounds like both Dach and Walman have strong chances of suiting up.
Meanwhile, Nugent-Hopkins, who has yet to play this season due to a lower-body injury, is on track to return late next week, perhaps either on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes or Saturday, Oct. 24, versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last but not least is Jason Dickinson, who has been in and out of the lineup several times this season due to a variety of injuries. Thankfully, the latest doesn’t appear to be anything serious, as he is expected to return during the Oilers’ next homestand, which begins on Tuesday.
Oilers injury update.
Hyman will play tomorrow.
Dach and Walman are very likely to play.
RNH on track to return late next week v. CAR or TOR.
Dickinson should return on homestand as well.Dach is on IR, so when activated, EDM needs to make a roster move. Could just put…
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) October 16, 2026
Thanks in large part to the dominant play of McDavid, Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, the Oilers have jumped out to a 5-1-1 start this season. That is good enough for second in the Pacific Division, trailing only the Vegas Golden Knights, who have played an additional two games.
As good as they’ve already looked, they should be a whole lot better once the names above return to the lineup. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the league, and it makes it extremely obvious as to why this team is being viewed as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender once again.
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