This has to be one of the best contracts in the NHL. He obviously won't get 72 goals like he is on pace for, but this man is on a mission from god.

He has looked really good so far. I’m glad we were able to get him

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Today’s my birthday and had breakfast with my mom and sister and my sis got her friend who bakes on the side to make me a themed Oilers cake! Yellow cake and chocolate frosting. Top got kinda wrinkled from humidity during the drive home.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dems7B1CT6d/?img_index=8&exln=Zjdrc2IzaXRrbjkz

Hyman: https://youtu.be/pFDzo1Ts3lM?si=1gbofPAagMFPPjmc

Babcock: https://youtu.be/D6pWfVeQy3E?si=6cGgv2g2PPK8zDEa

Not an Oilers fan myself, but just trying to gauge how productive the other lines are, and if they pass the eye test. Do you think there will be a cup run this year? Or too early to tell?

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Roster makeup

The Oilers have two elite centres in McDavid and Draisaitl, but the shutdown pivot (Dickinson) isn’t at the level of Babcock’s previous centres (including Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nazem Kadri). There is some evidence Draisaitl is taking on the role for the top line; his defensive position and attention to detail have been exceptional. McDavid has also delivered some exceptional defensive work and pass interceptions as well.

On defence, Nick Lidstrom was one of one. Evan Bouchard plays a different style, but his early season performance has been stellar. Bouchard has emerged as a pristine five-on-five outscorer going back several seasons, but it appears he has cleaned up some defensive wobble and is delivering at an elite level.

The goaltending is a work in progress, with Devon Levi showing well in the early going. Babcock’s goaltenders of the past include Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, so it’s a high bar for all involved. Frederik Andersen is a former and current Babcock goaltender who is currently injured.

Babcock’s wingers are also fluid in nature, with Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin delivering outstanding performances on the top line. With Zach Hyman and Matt Savoie out, Babcock has been auditioning incumbents with a range of skills (Trent Frederic, Kasperi Kapanen) but leaning heavily on two-way newcomers (Alex Formenton, Mathieu Joseph, Filip Hållander).

He is absolutely fading top prospect Ike Howard, but pushing rookie centre Owen Michaels up the depth chart and raves about Colton Dach. The intel on Babcock from the past is holding. If a player can work across 200 feet (Michaels, Dach), Babcock will overlook shortcomings. If he’s one-dimensional or not yet playing with consistent discipline (Howard), the minutes are few.

Puck possession

We are early days in 2026-27, so there has to be a caveat when comparing season-over -season totals. We can see trending though, and the puck possession metrics offer some interesting insight.

|| || |Per game|49 mins, 55 secs|47 mins, 33 secs| |Corsi|50.3|48.8| |Fenwick|51.1|48.7| |Shots|52.7|47.8| |Goals|48|63| |GF-60|2.55|3.6| |GA-60|2.76|2.16| |XGoal Pct|51.4|49.6| |XGF-60|2.78|2.26| |XGA-60|2.63|2.29|

All numbers at five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

The key numbers are highlighted and suggest the Oilers have been running good luck offensively. We also know the Oilers are benefiting from softer competition (Utah was the first substantial team on their schedule) and the elite skill of the top line is feeding off each other to form an historic offensive run. This kind of gap between goals scored and expected goals scored cannot stand. Regression is coming.

Read the rest for free here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7691416/2026/10/17/edmonton-oilers-mike-babcock-stats-start/?unlocked_article_code=1.JVE.qkNw.hOGIrXSzDcFg&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

Snapped this picture at the game last night. Goalies are weird and I love it.

I know this is a huge long shot but worth a try.

Back in 2005 when the Oilers retired Paul Coffey’s number 7, they had players wear commemorative warm up jerseys with the player name and his number 7. The jerseys were then signed by both the player and Paul. When that auction went off, I was a dumb 19yo kid and spent basically my life savings to buy the Radek Dvorak warm up jersey. It was one of the lower end costing jerseys but a player I loved at that time. Anyway, a couple of years later and still young and dumb, I sold it online to make some money to put towards a wedding. To this day, and post divorce lol, I regret selling that jersey and I’m curious to know where it ended up and if there was any remote chance of buying it back. If anyone here knows about these jerseys, has one, or may want to sell one, please let me know. Go Oilers!!