Edmonton Oilers Reveal Full Eight-Game 2025 Preseason Schedule as Team Begins Final Preparations for Crucial Upcoming NHL Campaign
The Edmonton Oilers have officially released their full eight-game preseason schedule ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, giving fans and analysts alike a first look at the opportunities for lineup experimentation, prospect evaluation, and early chemistry building. With expectations sky-high once again and a roster in the midst of subtle transition, this preseason slate carries more weight than usual for a team that has come close—but not close enough—to winning it all in recent years.
The schedule includes a balanced mix of home and away games, regional rivalries, and opponents from both the Western and Eastern Conferences. It kicks off on September 21 against the Calgary Flames, offering an early taste of the Battle of Alberta and providing the perfect intensity level to launch a high-stakes season. From there, the Oilers will play games against the Vancouver Canucks, Seattle Kraken, Winnipeg Jets, and even the Ottawa Senators, offering a wide spectrum of competition to test the roster’s readiness.
While preseason hockey is never about results in the standings, it often serves as a crucial proving ground — especially for bubble players, new acquisitions, and coaching staff finalizing systems. For Edmonton, that means attention will be laser-focused on several key storylines across these eight contests.
Perhaps the most intriguing angle is the battle for bottom-six forward spots. With the additions of Andrew Mangiapane and Curtis Lazar, and with Kaapo Kakko coming in on a low-risk, high-upside deal, minutes in the forward corps will be at a premium. Dylan Holloway is expected to push for a top-six role, but whether he starts there or lower down the lineup will largely be decided based on how he performs during this stretch of games. The same goes for Xavier Bourgault, assuming he remains with the club amid ongoing trade rumors.
Bourgault, once one of Edmonton’s most prized prospects, could use the preseason as a launchpad to finally make his NHL breakthrough. While trade speculation continues to swirl, the coaching staff has been consistent in their public stance: opportunities will be earned, not given. That makes these eight games critical for Bourgault’s future, not only with the Oilers but possibly league-wide.
Another position under the microscope is backup goaltender. With Calvin Pickard departing in free agency and Jack Campbell’s future still uncertain, the Oilers lack a proven No. 2 netminder behind Stuart Skinner. Olivier Rodrigue could be given a long preseason leash to make his case, especially if Edmonton doesn’t add a veteran option before camp opens. Rodrigue has shown flashes of potential at the AHL level, and the team may want to know if he’s ready before exploring outside options via trade or late signings.
Defensively, the third pair will be a battleground. With Brett Kulak now out of the picture, Philip Broberg is expected to step into a full-time role, likely alongside Vincent Desharnais or new depth acquisition Travis Dermott. Broberg’s development has been slower than anticipated for a former top-10 pick, but he has a golden opportunity to establish himself as an NHL regular. The coaching staff will be watching his preseason performances closely, particularly his decision-making under pressure and ability to contribute to the transition game.
Of course, the top of the lineup is less about earning spots and more about building chemistry. Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman are expected to reunite on the top line, but the right wing remains a question mark. If Dylan Holloway makes a strong case, he could be given a look in that spot. Otherwise, Mangiapane or even Kakko could slot in during the preseason to see who gels best with the game’s best player. For Leon Draisaitl’s line, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will likely be beside him on the left, but the right side is again a rotating carousel that will spin throughout these exhibition games.
In addition to lineup evaluations, the preseason will allow new assistant coaches to implement system tweaks. While Jay Woodcroft remains the head coach, offseason restructuring within the staff means new voices will be influencing special teams, defensive zone schemes, and forward rotations. Preseason games offer the first glimpse of these changes in action — particularly on the penalty kill, which faltered at key moments last season.
The schedule also presents logistical and travel challenges that mirror regular-season rhythms, helping the coaching staff simulate the grind to come. The Oilers will play back-to-back sets, including road matchups against the Canucks and Jets, as well as a three-games-in-five-nights stretch to close out the schedule. These dense patches will be useful in testing the team’s depth and resilience — even in a preseason context.
Beyond strategy and roster decisions, the preseason games will serve another critical function: reintroducing the team to its fanbase and reigniting passion after a summer of uncertainty. Edmonton’s home preseason contests — especially those against rivals like Calgary and Vancouver — are expected to draw strong crowds, with fans eager to see new players in person and get a sense of whether this version of the Oilers is the one that finally gets over the playoff hump.
The franchise also has off-ice reasons to maximize preseason impact. With Leon Draisaitl eligible for an extension in 2026 and McDavid’s free agency not too far behind, every step toward a winning culture helps build the case for long-term commitment from their generational core. How the team performs this preseason — not just in wins and losses but in focus, cohesion, and intensity — will set the tone for those broader negotiations and organizational direction.
Another point worth monitoring is how younger prospects outside the main roster bubble perform. Players like Beau Akey on the blue line or Ty Tullio at forward could see extended looks in early preseason games before being reassigned to Bakersfield. The Oilers have made it clear that organizational depth must improve, and the preseason allows for a clear evaluation of how close (or far) those prospects are from NHL readiness.
The Oilers’ full eight-game schedule is as follows (subject to slight changes):
- Sept. 21 – vs. Calgary Flames (Home)
- Sept. 23 – at Vancouver Canucks (Away)
- Sept. 25 – vs. Seattle Kraken (Home)
- Sept. 27 – at Winnipeg Jets (Away)
- Sept. 29 – vs. Ottawa Senators (Home)
- Oct. 1 – at Seattle Kraken (Away)
- Oct. 3 – vs. Vancouver Canucks (Home)
- Oct. 5 – at Calgary Flames (Away)
The variety in opponents provides useful variety for coaching evaluation. Facing a high-octane team like Ottawa offers contrast to the more structured, grind-heavy approach expected from teams like Winnipeg and Calgary. Seattle, a newer franchise with a deep and disciplined identity, provides a good litmus test for whether Edmonton can impose its offensive style against teams that thrive on disrupting tempo.
While these games will likely not feature full-strength lineups for opponents, the structure and pace will nonetheless escalate with each passing game, particularly in the final few contests when most teams ice rosters close to their opening-night versions. Edmonton’s coaching staff will likely follow the same pattern, giving younger players longer looks early before whittling down the roster to 23 by the final week.
As always, injuries are a concern. The Oilers will aim to balance competitive tempo with player protection. No one wants a key player hurt in September, and veterans like McDavid and Draisaitl may see limited time in early games for this reason. But even brief appearances allow for chemistry testing and game rhythm tuning.
In the grand scheme of things, the preseason is only a small slice of the NHL calendar, but for a team under a microscope like the Oilers, it carries outsized importance. Edmonton can’t afford a slow start to the regular season, and how they prepare in these eight games will tell us plenty about their readiness, their internal competitiveness, and their adaptability.
In a year where expectations are once again high and the margin for error remains slim, the Oilers’ preseason schedule represents not just a warm-up — but a potential launchpad for something bigger.
