The Oil Stream

The fellas are back at the desk on The Oil Stream, live on Edmonton Sports Talk! 💧🎙️ Edmonton officially wrapped up the exhibition schedule with a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night—capping off an undefeated preseason run! The boys dive headfirst into the biggest takeaways from Saturday's tune-up and look at the exhibition slate as a whole. Who made a statement and earned their spot, and who fell flat when it mattered most? 🏒 From there, the fellas debate the big-picture trends: Are we already seeing a distinct difference in structural play and pace from this squad compared to last year?

Reid Wilkins steps up to share the desk with the young guys, YouTube Trev and Benny Thomson!

The fellas lead off by recapping last night's impressive preseason victory over Vancouver! Edmonton's youth movement stepped up, proving to be more than enough to handle a veteran-heavy Canucks squad. The boys break down who stood out—highlighting Ike Howard finally getting his name on the scoresheet with a 2-point performance, and Tristan Jarry standing tall in goal with a steady 60-minute outing. Who else made a statement to the coaching staff?

Then, Trev and Benny roll on with their Oilers Rankings of Importance for the upcoming season! Reid joins the breakdown as they unveil players #15 through #8 on the list—debating snubs, key role players, and who holds the most weight in Edmonton's quest for the Cup.

To finish off the show, the boys debut an all-new segment: NHL Bidding! It's a head-to-head showdown as YouTube Trev goes toe-to-toe with Reid Wilkins. Who takes home bragging rights in the maiden voyage of the game?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

YouTube Trev and Benny Thomson team up with Joaquin Gage to break down a massive slate of hockey headlines and heated Oilers debates!

First up, the fellas tackle some jaw-dropping national headlines after Mark Messier didn't hold back on his thoughts regarding head coach Mike Babcock! The boys react to "The Moose's" spicy comments and what it means for the organization's narrative moving forward.

Then, the boys look ahead to tonight's Oilers Preseason Game Day! With Edmonton rolling out primarily an AHL-heavy roster, all eyes are on prospect Ike Howard. What does his inclusion in tonight's lineup mean for his evaluation, and is this his make-or-break moment to impress the coaching staff?

Next, Trev and Benny continue their countdown of the Oilers Rankings of Importance for the upcoming season, revealing numbers #20 through #16! Gager breaks down the list from a goalie's perspective, calling out snubs, hot takes, and key role players who will define Edmonton's depth.

Plus, the fellas play the Numbers Game, highlighting the biggest milestone achievements to watch across the NHL this season!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage, and YouTube Trev hit the desk to break down all the fallout from last night's action and dive deep into the biggest questions facing Oil Country!

First up, the fellas recap last night's exhibition contest, handing out their game grades. Who looks ready for the regular season grind, and who needs to pick up the pace?

Then, the boys tackle a major tactical debate: Can the Oilers truly trust a second line without Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl? If the coaching staff decides to keep #97 and #29 together on the top unit, does Edmonton have the skill and secondary scoring depth to field a legit, line-two threat?

Next, all eyes turn to Ike Howard. The fellas debate his path to making the opening night roster: if he doesn't secure a top-six spot, is there value in keeping him in a bottom-six role, or is his development far better served playing top minutes in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors?

Then, the crew broadens the horizon to survey the rest of the nation: Outside of McDavid and Draisaitl, who is the best player on a Canadian NHL team? Is it Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Evan Bouchard, or someone else entirely?

Finally, the boys launch a new segment: Mike Babcock Dog House Watch! Which Oilers player is walking on the thinnest ice with the new bench boss heading into the regular season?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage, and YouTube Trev hit the desk to dissect all the action as Edmonton heads to Winnipeg for a road clash against the Jets.

First up, the boys preview tonight's matchup and break down the projected game-night roster—who gets the nod in net, how the forward lines look, and which bubble players are getting another look under the lights!

Then, the fellas spark a high-stakes debate on the blue line: Where does Evan Bouchard actually rank among NHL defensemen? Is he firmly top five, top 10, or somewhere in the top 20 tier? The crew spars over his elite offensive production versus his overall defensive impact.

Next, the boys examine Edmonton's secondary scoring depth by comparing the Oilers' second line to the rest of the contenders around the NHL. How does Edmonton's #2 unit measure up, and can they provide the balanced attack needed for a long Cup run?

Plus, Gager reacts to YouTube Trev & Benny Thomson's Player Importance Countdown (#25-21)! Joaquin offers his expert goalkeeper's perspective on the list, calling out the rankings, snubs, and hot takes.

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

We are back from the weekend with a massive Monday edition of The Oil Stream, live on Edmonton Sports Talk! 💧🎙️ Dustin Nielson, YouTube Trev, and Benny Thomson hit the desk to recap everything that went down over an action-packed weekend in sports, with all eyes locked firm on Oil Country!The Edmonton Oilers officially opened their exhibition slate at Rogers Place, picking up a crisp 5-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Benny was in the building for game one and gives his firsthand, boots-on-the-ground takeaways. How did the line combinations look in game speed, which bubble players made a splash, and how did the squad handle their first real action of the fall? Then, the fellas roll out the latest installment of YouTube Trev & Benny Thomson's Importance Rankings! The boys continue counting down the players who will be most critical to Edmonton's success by the end of the season, tackling #25 through #21. Who made the list, who got snubbed, and where do the debate lines get drawn? Plus, head coach Mike Babcock met the media following Saturday's 5-2 win. The boys react to his post-game audio, breaking down his thoughts on the team's tempo, the special teams, and his early impressions of the group.All that, your live chat hot takes, and so much more on another edition of The Oil Stream!

YouTube Trev holds down the anchor desk alongside Hernan Salas, with Benny Thomson steering the ship from the producer's chair to close out a massive week of Oil Country coverage.

The fellas kick things off by unpacking the action from today and yesterday's ice sessions at Rogers Place. Trev gets Hernan and Benny's reactions to the key player pressers, before diving into the high-stakes drama from today's intra-squad scrimmage. Oil Country held its breath after scary moments saw Connor McDavid and Sam Dickinson go down and slowly get up—the boys deliver the latest status updates and discuss how close the team came to absolute panic mode!

Next, the crew turns its focus to Saturday night as the Oilers welcome the Winnipeg Jets to town for their official preseason opener! The fellas break down expected lineups, key bubble battles to watch, and debate who among the crew is actually going to the game. To wrap up the show and the week, the boys unveil their top 10 NHL players heading into the season! They stack their lists up against TSN's newly released rankings—who snags the top spot, where do Edmonton's superstars land, and what are the biggest snubs and surprises across the league?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Joaquin Gage, Benny Thomson, and YouTube Trev are back on the desk to talk all things Oilers and NHL hockey on The Oil Stream, on Edmonton Sports Talk!

Main Camp is officially underway at Rogers Place, and the ice is buzzing! The fellas break down the line combinations and defensive pairings from today's practice session. Who is skating alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? What do the early bottom-six lines look like, and how are the new blue-line faces fitting into the mix?

Then, the boys react to head coach Mike Babcock's comments after his first formal media availability since he was hired. The fellas dissect his tone, his message to the locker room, and what he expects out of this group as exhibition action approaches.

Next, the boys dive into a juicy hot take from insider Frank Seravalli, who said he wouldn't be surprised if Devon Levi becomes a more pivotal factor for Edmonton this season than Tristan Jarry. Gager, Benny, and Trev debate the goaltending dynamic, workload expectations, and who ultimately anchors the net down the stretch.

Finally, the fellas zoom out to check on the ongoing situation surrounding Connor Hellebuyck in Winnipeg. With the Jets' General Manager addressing the media today, the boys react to his latest comments and examine what it means for the rest of the Western Conference!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Oilers Training Camp is officially underway at Rogers Place, and GM Stan Bowman took the microphone to kick things off! The boys react to Bowman's media availability and dissect his comments line-by-line. Does the front office actually care about fan sentiment in Oil Country, or is it strictly business at the top? Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage, and YouTube Trev debate his tone, roster priorities, and what it means for the organization moving forward.

Finally, the fellas step back to analyze the big picture in the NHL landscape heading into camp: What tier of contender are the Edmonton Oilers right now? Are they a lock in Tier 1 alongside the league's elite, sitting in Tier 2 with minor flaws, or slipping into Tier 3 as rivals load up?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Hockey news is flying thick and fast, and the fellas are back at the desk for a massive Tuesday edition of The Oil Stream on Edmonton Sports Talk. The boys lead off with a quick touch-on last night's action in Calgary!

The Oilers Rookies put on an absolute clinic down south, crushing the Flames prospects 6-1 to kick off rookie camp in dominant fashion. The fellas pull out their main takeaways from the young guns before pivoting straight to the big-league hot stove.

With massive extension contracts being handed out across the NHL this morning, market values for young talent are shifting fast. The boys break down the latest ink dried around the league and ask the million-dollar question for Oil Country: What will a Matt Savoie contract extension look like for Edmonton? Are we looking at a bridge deal or a long-term commitment for the local product?

Then, the fellas dive into the macro debate surrounding the franchise heading into the new season: Are the Edmonton Oilers still prime Stanley Cup contenders? With roster turnover across the Pacific and heavy expectations weighing on #97 and #29, the boys break down where Edmonton stands in the league's hierarchy and what it will take to finish the job this year. Plus, they dabble into some other NHL headlines!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!