The Edmonton Oilers’ first preseason game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 at Rogers Place. The opponent will be the Winnipeg Jets, who first met Edmonton in regular-season action on Oct. 15, 1972 (the opening month of the WHA). The Oilers won that game, and pretty much every one that has mattered since.This season’s Oilers are unique in the Connor McDavid era. Since the world’s best hockey player was drafted in the summer of 2015, the Oilers’ story each season is seen through the lens of the Edmonton captain. This fall, that spotlight will still be on McDavid (and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl) but the offseason move that grabbed the most attention came from hiring head coach Mike Babcock. The two superstars not only endorsed the hire, they were there at the genesis of the idea.Since the announcement of Babcock’s return to the NHL, fans have engaged in deep discussions about Babcock’s deployment of the roster, who will be elevated or faded, and how many wins the team should deliver in the first 10 games of the year. (The consensus appears to be something like 5-4-1.)Before it all begins, let’s look at a position-by-position depth chart leading into training camp.Goalies PlayerRoleFrederik AndersenShould start if he's healthyTristan JarryNeeds to show consistencyDevon LeviNo. 3 goalieMatt TomkinsAHL starterSamuel JonssonPushing for AHL starting jobConnor UngarPushing for AHL starting jobNathan DayECHLThe position is in a period of transition since the Stuart Skinner-Tristan Jarry trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins last winter. Jarry will have to prove himself able to outplay Frederik Andersen in order to keep the starter’s job. Babcock coached Andersen in Toronto, and that plus the fact Andersen backstopped the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring could mean Jarry is in the backup role at the start of the regular season.Devon Levi, also new to the team, is the top young stopper on the depth chart. He’ll hang around the Oilers all year — GM Stan Bowman won’t risk waivers. At the AHL level, the Bakersfield Condors will enter the year with Matt Tomkins as the starter. Highly touted prospects Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar will push for playing time. Nathan Day appears destined for the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets, reflecting an increasingly strong organizational depth chart.Left defencePlayerRoleMattias EkholmTop minutes, elite resultsJake WalmanSecond or third pairRyan SheaSecond or third pairShakir MukhamadullinThird pair or press boxSpencer StastneyTrade, waivers or AHLDamien CarfagnaBig AHL minutes, possible call-upRiley StillmanTrusted veteran, call-up optionAtro LeppänenChaos D, a wild cardTomáš CibulkaAHL third pairThe Oilers are robust on the left side of the blue line. The key is veteran Mattias Ekholm, who keeps delivering exceptional seasons despite being 36. Ekholm is an example of a player who was underrated due to playing behind a more famous skater (in this case, Roman Josi with the Nashville Predators) and then emerging as an impact player in a new NHL city. Ekholm is one of the best trade acquisitions in team history.The second pairing should be a battle between Jake Walman and newcomer Ryan Shea. Walman has shown the ability to take on tougher minutes, but there is no safety net now that Darnell Nurse is a member of the San Jose Sharks. Walman’s skating and puck transportation is so good that he should win the day if he’s healthy, but Shea offers a significant challenge.Shakir Mukhamadullin is a smooth skater and can play on the left or right, though Babcock probably uses him on his natural side. He is 24, has 83 games of NHL experience and was impressive against the soft parade last season, putting up a 57 percent goal share against the easiest competition last season in San Jose, per PuckIQ.There’s a gap between Mukhamadullin and Spencer Stastney, who came over from the Predators in a deal last season. How big a gap is unknown, and will be left to Babcock to figure out. Time is of the essence, because Stastney is not waiver exempt and it is a distinct possibility the team would lose him. In the past, the team has erred on the side of caution, retaining the player in question; Brandon Davidson in the fall of 2015 is a famous example. Complicating the idea of keeping eight defencemen is the fact the Oilers are committed to retaining three goaltenders.Bakersfield should be set no matter what happens to Stastney. The LHD prospect fans are most curious about is Damien Carfagna. Undersized but mobile and skilled, he was a revelation for the Condors last season. If he continues at the same level in 2026-27, he should make his first NHL appearance before spring.