Edmonton Oilers-head coach Kris Knoblauch shakes things in preparation for the 2025-26 season, and Thursday’s training offered a first glimpse of his plans. The most striking combination saw newcomer David Tomaseek skating alongside Connor McDavid and Andrew Mangiapane. Although both Tomasek and Mangiapane benefit from the chance, it is the placement of Tomasek that some fans enthusiastic.
General manager Stan Bowman spoke very much about Tomasek during Wednesday’s media session, which emphasizes his versatility. “David has been a strong center, but he can also play a wing,” said Bowman. “He is a right -handed shot that we don’t have much of, and he can quickly get the puck off his stick.”
Bowman also noted that Tomaseek’s scoring Touch, recalled his success in the Swedish league and emphasized his talent for finding open space. Knoblauch seems to be intrigued by the idea of a shooter who supplements the speed of McDavid and plays in the camp early. Bowman noticed: “He could also be a good winger for one of the top centers, so I think we’ll see what that will look like in the coming two weeks.”
Other line combinations were Adam Henrique who concentrated Ryan Ngent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie, while Max Jones skated with Noah Philp and Curtis Lazar. With different players, these early experiments are far from definitive, but the oilers clearly investigate new attacking options.
Next: Bowman explains the blueprint of Oilers for the 2025-26 season
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