The Oil Stream

Dustin Nielson, Benny Thomson, and YouTube Trev are live in the studio for another jam-packed edition of The Oil Stream!

The boys lead off with a heartfelt tribute to the late Cal Nichols, who passed away at 84. The fellas reflect on his monumental legacy as the former EIG chairman and the leader who spearheaded the drive to save the Oilers from relocation in the 1990s. Without Cal Nichols, there is no Rogers Place, no McDavid era, and no NHL hockey in Edmonton. The boys dive into what he meant to the franchise and the entire city.

Shifting to on-ice action, hockey is officially back! The Oilers Rookies head to Calgary tonight to battle the Flames prospects in their first game action of the season. The fellas break down who they're keeping an eye on tonight while looking back at the young guns' weekend team-building retreat—which prompts Nielson, Benny, and Trev to brainstorm what an ultimate EST team-building experience would actually look like!

Finally, as Stanley Cup expectations hit an all-time high, the boys debate a hot topic around Oil Country: Should the Oilers embrace being the ultimate NHL villains this season? From media pressure to opposition arenas hating #97 and #29, is it time for Edmonton to fully lean into the dark side on their quest for the Cup?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Reid Wilkins, Hernan Salas, and Benny Thomson are in the studio breaking down the latest news, rumours, and storylines surrounding the Edmonton Oilers!

The boys kick things off with Leon Draisaitl speaking with the media yesterday. What did the Oilers star have to say, and what stood out from his comments heading into the season?

Then, rookie camp officially gets underway today! The fellas break down the prospects to watch and which young players could make an impression as the Oilers get their next wave of talent on the ice.

We also take a closer look at Ike Howard and what a realistic season could look like for the young forward. What should Oilers fans realistically expect from Howard this season, and how big of a role could he have in Edmonton?

Plus, the boys go around the NHL, taking a look at the latest news, rumours, and storylines from around the league.

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage and Benny Thomson are in the studio breaking down the latest news, rumours, and storylines surrounding the Edmonton Oilers!

The boys kick things off with the Oilers officially announcing their rookie camp roster. Who are the names to watch, and which prospects could make an impression heading into camp?

Then, the fellas dive into Alex Formenton and whether he has a legitimate shot at being on the Oilers' opening night roster. What does his path to the NHL lineup look like?

The guys also react to what Leon Draisaitl said after today's skate before addressing Connor McDavid's availability from yesterday.

Plus, are we ready to see McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together more often? Dustin, Gager, and Benny discuss the possibility and what it could mean for the Oilers this season. And Benny is bringing a brand-new game to the show for Gager and Dusty to play!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage, and Benny Thomson break down the latest news, rumours, and storylines surrounding the Edmonton Oilers!

The boys kick things off with a massive rumour surrounding Connor McDavid. Lots of discussion online about McDavid possibly wanting to go to the Leafs. How much should we actually make of the rumour, and could Toronto ever be a realistic destination for the Oilers captain?

Then, the Bouch disrespect continues! Why does the criticism of Evan Bouchard keep coming, and will it ever get better? Dustin, Gage, and Benny debate Bouchard's game, his expectations, and whether he's getting the respect he deserves.

The fellas also take a closer look at Ike Howard. Does Howard NEED to get a look in Edmonton's top six, and if so, how many games should the Oilers give him to prove he belongs?

Plus, Sean Reynolds believes Connor Hellebuyck would consider being traded to Edmonton. Could the Oilers actually be a destination for the Vezina-winning goaltender, and what would it take to make that happen?

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

YouTube Trev, Hernan Salas, and Benny Thomson take the desk to keep the hockey conversation rolling!

The boys tackle one of the biggest multi-decade storylines in franchise history: Will the Edmonton Oilers finally win a division title for the first time in nearly 40 years? The fellas debate the true value of banner-hunting—does finishing atop the Pacific Division even matter when home-ice advantage and Stanley Cup expectations are locked in? And if Edmonton doesn't claim the Pacific crown, who takes it? Vancouver, Vegas, or Los Angeles?

Then, the boys pivot to the hardware! With the new campaign fast approaching, Trev, Hernan, and Benny put their reputations on the line and lock in their official predictions for the NHL's biggest individual awards! From the Hart Trophy and Art Ross to the Vezina and Ted Lindsay, the fellas debate who takes home the league's top honours this season. All that, hot takes, and so much more on another edition of The Oil Stream!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

For the very first time on the airwaves, Benny Thomson, former Oilers netminder Joaquin Gage, and YouTube Trev have a show together! With the NHL preseason just 16 days away and training camp set to launch, the countdown to Oilers hockey is officially ON!

The fellas continue their deep dive into the biggest storylines facing Oil Country heading into the 2026-27 campaign. Today, YouTube Trev steps up to the plate—what are his biggest storylines and key burning questions for the roster as camp nears?

Next, the boys shift gears to break down Mark Spector's latest piece, titled "New season, same questions for Oilers." Spec digs into the familiar Summer themes—from the top-six setup to lingering questions in goal. The fellas debate the piece line-by-line: Is he spot on, or is he missing the mark with this group?

Then, with roster spots up for grabs, the boys lay out their projected second lines for opening night! Who slots in alongside Leon Draisaitl, and what combination gives Edmonton the best scoring balance?

To cap off the show on a high note, EA Sports NHL 27 officially dropped their full video game soundtrack today, and let's just say... they included some absolute BANGERS this year!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson, former Oilers netminder Joaquin Gage, and YouTube Trev share the airwaves for the very first time!

The boys jump straight into Dusty's Top 3 Biggest Storylines heading into the upcoming Edmonton Oilers season. What key narratives will define the campaign, and how do Gager and Trev view the road ahead?

Next, the fellas break down the latest NHL headlines as Eeli Tolvanen inks a killer one-year, $1.5M deal with the New York Rangers. Did the Blueshirts land one of the best bargains of late summer, and what does it mean for middle-six scoring depth across the league?

Then, the boys play general manager! Each host brings ONE Unrestricted Free Agent to the table they want the Oilers to invite to training camp on a PTO (Professional Tryout Agreement). Who is the best fit to come in and push for a roster spot on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations?

Finally, Dusty dives into Zach Hyman's numbers for today's edition of The Numbers Game, presented by Play Alberta!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

Dustin Nielson and YouTube Trev are joined by Benny Thomson—and the energy is through the roof!

Benny brings his top three biggest storylines heading into the upcoming Edmonton Oilers season, and Dusty and Trev jump in to break down every single one...

The Trent Frederic Bounce Back: Can the forward deliver a massive rebound campaign and bring that bite, depth scoring, and physical edge the Oilers need in the bottom six?

Trade Deadline Cap Space: How will management manage the cap sheet heading into Spring, and what major moves could the Oilers pull off at the deadline to bolster a Cup run?

Under-26 Expectations: What are realistic expectations for the young core? What kind of steps do the under-26 guys need to take to drive this team forward? All that, hot takes from fans, and so much more on another edition of The Oil Stream!

The Oil Stream is presented by Boston Pizza!

It's a new era for The Oil Stream on Edmonton Sports Talk! The Oil Stream is now a daily show featuring a rotation of hosts including Dustin Nielson, Joaquin Gage, YouTube Trev, and Benny Thomson. It will be a combination of 3 of those 4 hosts with each show which leads to today's lineup of Dusty, Gager, and Benny as they are in the studio from Noon to 1 PM talking everything Oilers as training camp approaches. With the season getting closer, the boys take a look at one of the biggest questions on the Oilers blue line: Could Jake Walman or Ryan Shea take over Mattias Ekholm's role this season? With Ekholm's status creating questions on the back end, who could step up and take on those important minutes? Joaquin Gage also brings his 3 Story Lines heading into Oilers training camp, highlighting the biggest questions, players, and storylines he'll be watching as Edmonton gets set for the new season. The boys also dive into what the Oilers could look like under new head coach Mike Babcock. What will change stylistically? How will the team approach the game under Babcock, and what can Oil Country expect when the puck drops? All that, your live chat reactions, and plenty more Oilers discussion on the first day of the new and improved The Oil Stream!

The Oil Stream Is Presented By Boston Pizza!

History is being made on The Oil Stream! For the first time EVER, YouTube Trev and Hernan Salas are sharing the desk together live on Edmonton Sports Talk! And to celebrate this iconic duo, Trev has actually written and recorded a custom show song! But there's a catch... the song will ONLY be played on the air if the stream hits 100 LIKES! Can Oil Country smash the like button and unleash Trev's secret track? Smash that thumb up right now! Once the desk setup settles, the fellas dive right into the massive news sending shockwaves through Western Canada: Connor Hellebuyck making his trade request out of Winnipeg public! What happens next in Winnipeg? What kind of return can the Jets expect for a multi-time Vezina winner, where does he land, and is this trade demand part of a broader trend of American-born stars wanting out of Canadian markets? Then, the boys turn their attention home to discuss last night's front-office move out of Oil Country. The Edmonton Oilers have officially hired Stanley Cup champion Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant! 🏒 The boys share their thoughts on adding the former Golden Knights and Hockey Canada executive to the staff, and wrap up by updating the timeline for Matt Savoie's return to the lineup for the upcoming season! All that, your live chat hot takes, and so much more on another edition of The Oil Stream!