Examining Oilers centre depth: Locks, hopefuls and a Condors new wave

NHL managers place high value on centres across the organizational depth chart. The Edmonton Oilers’ depth at the positional is phenomenal, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The team acquired, and then signed, checking centre Jason Dickinson at the trade deadline, giving the roster a strong top of the order at the position.

However, after that, the team is in something of a dry period at centre. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a brilliant two-way forward, played more on left wing last year than at any point in his 15-year NHL career. Nugent-Hopkins took almost 200 fewer faceoffs year-over-year; his total faceoffs (363) was his lowest total in a full (non-injury, non-pandemic) season.

New coach Mike Babcock plans to run McDavid and Draisaitl together at times five-on-five. That means the club will likely carry five centres and eight wingers to start the season. Since we know McDavid, Draisaitl and Dickinson will populate the top three lines (two when 97-29 are together), here’s a look at the Oilers and AHL Bakersfield Condors depth charts as the teams prepare for training camp.

The NHL locks

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick and Puck IQ (elite numbers)

No other NHL team can compete with the Oilers at the top of the centre depth chart. The team doesn’t have another ideal option for No. 2 centre (there’s a league-wide shortage) and Babcock may return to using Draisaitl (a No. 1 centre on most other teams) on the second line. Dickinson is ideally suited to a third-line role, with plenty of defensive zone starts, time spent against elites and on the penalty kill. Overall, the three men are formidable and will give opposition fits in 2026-27.

The possible NHL options 

Among the group who played centre at five-on-five last season and are no longer with the club, Adam Henrique (426 faceoffs, 137 minutes versus elites), Curtis Lazar (216 faceoffs, 66 minutes versus elites) and Jack Roslovic (233 faceoffs and 298 minutes, many as a winger, against elites) were the notables.

Nugent-Hopkins had 290 five-on-five faceoffs and played 322 minutes against elites. Many of those would have been at left wing with McDavid at centre. When he was in the middle (and away from McDavid and Draisaitl), Nugent-Hopkins’ lines were outscored badly and lacked offensive firepower.

Babcock might be able to find enough offence on the wings for Nugent-Hopkins, who remains a solid shot and goal suppression forward (2.47 goals against per 60 five-on-five away from McDavid and Draisaitl last year, via Natural Stat Trick). It is not a move the club should count on being successful.

The hopefuls

There have been times in Oilers history when a new coach unlocks options not previously seen in the organization. Craig MacTavish auditioned Shawn Horcoff, Mike Comrie, Domenic Pittis and Brian Swanson in his first season as head coach (2000-01), with Horcoff delivering as as two-way player immediately. Horcoff was a fourth-round pick in 1998 and was playing in the NHL two years later.

Babcock may find a similar player to Horcoff (at a lower level) in rookie Josh Samanski. He played in 24 NHL games last season, including 52 minutes against elites, and put up a 55 percent goal share at five-on-five. He had 108 faceoffs, with a 49 percent success rate. Samanski didn’t score much as a rookie with a points-per-60 rate of 1.00 at five-on-five, and there are no guarantees he’ll make the big club this fall. However, his two-way acumen stands out among Oilers hopefuls, and he was making the right play regularly last season in Edmonton.

Trent Frederic is a veteran winger who can play centre. Last season, his five-on-five faceoff percentage (57 percent in 153 five-on-five faceoffs) ranked behind only Lazar among regular Oilers players. He played 176 minutes versus elites, but his overall goal share (against all levels of opponents) was just 33 percent. If he can recover and help his line outscore, Frederic could be a major story in Edmonton this season.

Condors for possible recall

The Oilers may send Samanski to Bakersfield to start the season. He would represent a substantial recall option. If the Oilers have that kind of depth, things should work out at the position in 2026-27.

Other centres who could be matriculating from Bakersfield this winter include:

• Viljami Marjala, an offensive pivot who scored 60 points in 72 games with the Condors a year ago. His 43 assists led Bakersfield centres. He was outscored badly in the first half of the AHL season at even strength, but recovered in the second half and could get an NHL look later this season.
• William Nicholl graduated from junior and impressed in a five-game stint for Bakersfield at the end of last season. He is a burner, and has real checking ability. His offence was above average in junior, and if he can move the needle in the AHL, it’s possible Oilers fans see him over the duration of his three-year entry deal.
• Owen Michaels is, in many ways, the player to watch in Bakersfield this winter. A right-handed centre coming out of Western Michigan, he is a two-way player with plus foot speed and some offensive ability. Among all of the centres mentioned who are signed for next season, Michaels is the only right-handed pure centre in the organization. It goes without saying he could arrive quickly in the NHL should he prove able to handle AHL opponents out of the box.

Bottom line

It’s a good bet the Oilers will start the season with McDavid, Draisaitl, Dickinson and one of several options for the No. 4 centre role. Frederic might be an ideal fit, as sending Samanski to the AHL for more seasoning could prove beneficial when he gets the call to Edmonton later in the year.

After that, it’s difficult to look past Michaels. The Oilers aren’t going to overhype the young centre, but his contract details are a tell. Michaels makes $900,000 while in the NHL both seasons. His AHL salary in 2026-27 is $225,000, and then moves to $900,000 by year two. It’s a reasonable conclusion to draw that general manager Stan Bowman believes Michaels will be in the NHL by October 2027.

Fans have a right to question the depth of the team at centre after McDavid, Draisaitl and Dickinson. The club has some interesting options, including Samanski and Michaels, but no sure thing. The nature of the position suggests the Oilers will make a deal if necessary. The fact management hasn’t pulled the trigger on a right-handed option at the position suggests Michael is closer to the NHL than he might appear. It’s possible the Oilers are about to introduce a new wave of young centres to Oilers fans over the 2026-27 season.