Edmonton Oilers win preseason opener under Mike Babcock

The Edmonton Oilers secured a 5-2 preseason victory against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Place, marking the first game under new head coach Mike Babcock. The win featured a standout performance from newly acquired winger Alex Formenton, who scored a goal and earned a third-star selection. Babcock praised Formenton as a “difference-maker” and highlighted the effectiveness of the penalty-killing units.

Strategically, Babcock has kept superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line throughout training camp. While the team explores various lineup configurations, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is positioned as the second-line center alongside Zach Hyman and Ike Howard. Babcock emphasized that team productivity and organizational play are more critical to him than specific statistical outputs on the sheet.