We are in full preseason mode across the National Hockey League (NHL) with teams hitting the ice this past weekend. The Edmonton Oilers had their first taste of 2025-26 preseason action on Sunday, September 21st against their division and provincial rivals the Calgary Flames in two split squad games.
The team opened their 2025 training camp with a 55-man roster last week. This came following an impressive showing at their rookie camp, playing two home-and-home games against the Flames as well.
Now after getting some viewings in seeing them at the rookie camps with their peers and now at the NHL training camp, the Oilers made some roster decisions on Monday returning two 2025 NHL Draft picks to their respective junior clubs.
The #Oilers have returned forward Tommy Lafreniere to @BlazerHockey & forward David Lewandowski to @BladesHockey, both of @TheWHL. Best of luck this season, fellas! pic.twitter.com/RJsrzJmEd5
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 22, 2025
The team demoted Tommy Lafreniere and David Lewandowski to the Kamloops Blazers and Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL), respectively. This comes after some impressive play from the two top prospects, specifically with Lafreniere having an impressive final game at their rookie camp.
Tommy Lafreniere returned to the Blazers
As I said before, Lafreniere was impressive at the Oilers final rookie camp matchup against the Flames just over one week ago. He was selected by the Oilers in the Third round, 83rd overall at the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 18 year old right-handed centre has some interesting high energy two-way play that gives him a good projection at the NHL level. He was named the No. 5 prospect on our top 10 prospects list and for good reason, he should be a legitimate depth piece.
He is set to join a Blazers squad boasting names like top 2026 NHL Draft prospects, forward JP Hurlbert and goaltender Logan Edmonstone as well as 2025 Draft pick Nathan Behm and 2024 draft pick defenceman, Harrison Brunicke.
He has a chance to be an important piece of that team as they try to clinch a WHL playoff berth and hopefully take a shot at the Memorial Cup.
David Lewandowski sent back to Blades
Lewandowski was ranked No. 9 on our top 10 prospects list and was drafted by the Oilers in the Fourth round, 117th overall at the 2025 NHL Draft. The German winger was less of a standout than Lafreniere but still shows legitimate NHL potential as a power winger.
He came overseas part way through last season, joining the Blades for his first North American hockey season where he produced an impressive 15 goals, 24 assists for 39 points in 52 games. He has also represented Germany at various international tournaments, consistently coming away as one of the top players of his nation.
He joins the Blades who are not as stacked as Lafreniere's Blazers but still have an interesting cast that Lewandowski expects to be a big part of. The team has top 2026 draft prospect forward Cooper Williams, and also has fellow German winger Dustin Willhoft, who Lewandowski has skated alongside at international events.
These two players represent the first cuts of the Oilers 2025 NHL training camp and surely will not be the last as the club look to try and make the Stanley Cup final for a third straight season, hoping for a different result.