The Edmonton Oilers had an impressive preseason showing against their Western Canada rival, the Winnipeg Jets, winning the match 3-2 off the efforts of their rookies.
The game marked the first time that former Chicago Blackhawks captain, Jonathan Toews hit National Hockey League (NHL) ice after missing two seasons. Toews now playing with his hometown Jets squad looks to rebound his career after being sidelined suffering from long COVID symptoms.
On the Oilers side, the majority of their lineup was made of players competing for depth spots on the opening night roster or depth pieces showcasing their abilities. The top line however, gave a glimpse of the club's likely second line.
Oilers top performers
Ike Howard - The Oilers newly acquired rookie recently slotted No. 2 on our top 10 prospects list, scored the goal of the game with a blazing one-timer off the right wall.
Ice Man one-timer 🥶 pic.twitter.com/B34cxrqOFw
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 24, 2025
He was a standout player for the Oilers, garnering high praise from head coach Kris Knoblauch saying "Watching the game on video in Calgary, I wasn't there, but tonight he was getting a little greasy, moving his feet, making some plays, and obviously, with the goal and the power play, he sees a threat to score in situations like that. I like that he's just pursuing the puck and looking hungry for it."
This is what the team will need from the 2025 Hobey Baker winner entering the regular season as he tries to carve out a role amongst Oilers stars in the team's top-nine.
Noah Philp - The Oilers free agent signing has been a fan favourite and looks to win a depth role for the team this year. He earned a 15-game call up last season and will hope to expand on it, taking over as the team's fourth line centre.
In this game he showed off some playmaking, notching two assists and indicated flashes of secondary offence. This will be vital for the team moving forward as they look to extract more offence from their depth.
Quinn Hutson - The Oilers NCAA free agent standout was ranked No. 10 on our top 10 prospects list. He has showcased his high end talent, moving the puck well and making plays. He also shows a nose for the net, which is how he scored his goal on Tuesday, deflecting a puck in front to open the scoring in the second period.
Atro Leppanen - The Oilers free agent signing from Finland has looked lethal in his preseason action so far. He has a clear prowess as a puck moving blueliner and has been able to make things happen almost every time he touches the ice. He logged nearly 20 minutes against the Jets and appears to be making a strong argument to win a depth role on the backend.
The team is back in action on Wednesday to faceoff against the Seattle Kraken.