SERIES PREVIEW: (6) Saskatoon Blades vs. (3) Edmonton Oil Kings

It’s been a while.

For the first time since 1971, WHL clubs in Edmonton and Saskatoon will clash in the WHL Playoffs.

While the original Oil Kings franchise moved to Portland, this 2026 WHL Playoffs matchup sees the Blades and Oil Kings face off for the first time since Edmonton returned to the Dub as an expansion team in 2007-08.

The third-seed Oil Kings come in with something to prove after seeing a 3-1 series lead against Prince Albert evaporate in Round One of the 2025 postseason, while the Blades are gunning to advance to the second round for the first time since advancing to Game 7 of the 2024 WHL Eastern Conference Championship.

Blades alternate captain Rowan Calvert remembers that run all too well and will look to make an impact in his final trip to the playoffs.

Calvert, 20, led Saskatoon with a career-best 31 tallies this season, while towering Calgary Flames prospect Hunter Laing and 2026 NHL Draft-eligible Cooper Williams also surpassed 20 goals on the season.

Edmonton Oilers prospect David Lewandowski paced the Blades in points with 65, including a team-best 48 helpers.

On the other side of the ice, the Oil Kings have built a roster they feel is worthy of the WHL crown.

Four NHL prospects are set to participate (Calgary Flames prospect Max Curran is shut down for the season due to injury), including Toronto Maple Leafs pick Miroslav Holinka, who is tied for 11th in goals league-wide with 37.

Holinka, 20, is also tied for first in shorthanded goals (4) and second in game-winning goals (10).

He forms a daunting line with St. Louis Blues pick and fellow Czech forward Adam Jecho and team-leading scorer Lukas Sawchyn.

Edmonton made one of the biggest moves of the 2026 WHL Trade Deadline by adding defenceman Carter Sotheran from the Portland Winterhawks.

Sotheran finished sixth in points among WHL defencemen with 72 (19G-53A) and forms a dominant defensive corps with alternate captain and Seattle Kraken prospect Blake Fiddler and breakout star Ethan MacKenzie.

In net, Evan Gardner has become the face of the Blades since turning heads with a stunning rookie run in 2023-24.

The Columbus Blue Jackets second-rounder is second in wins by an active WHL netminder with 69, in addition to another 10 postseason victories.

Edmonton could go either way with Ethan Simcoe and rookie Parker Snell delivering strong performances across the board.

The Oil Kings took the regular season series 3-1-0-0 while outscoring Saskatoon 17-11.

Puck drops on Game 1 at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Friday, March 27, at 7:00 p.m. MT.

The teams roll on to Saskatoon for Game 3 on Tuesday, March 31, for a 7:00 p.m. MT tilt at the SaskTel Centre.

 

2025-26 Regular Season Series: Edmonton leads 3-1-0-0

October 19, 2025- Edmonton 3, Saskatoon 4
November 30, 2025- Saskatoon 5, Edmonton 6
January 9, 2026- Edmonton 3, Saskatoon 1
January 25, 2026- Saskatoon 1, Edmonton 5

GAME BREAKERS

Saskatoon: A German sharpshooter that’s also an Edmonton Oilers prospect? David Lewandowski may win over some fans during playoff games at Rogers Place. Not only did the 19-year-old lead Saskatoon in points, he also registered two goals and four helpers against the Oil Kings in the regular season.

Edmonton: How far can alternate captain Ethan MacKenzie take his breakout season? After being passed over in the NHL Draft twice, MacKenzie has erupted for 58 points (22G-36A) to sit fourth in goals among all WHL defenders and earn a berth on the 2026 Canadian World Junior squad. He did some of his best work against the Blades, where he racked up four goals and four assists in four appearances.

GOALTENDING

Saskatoon: Expect Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Evan Gardner to log some series minutes and shot volume in this first-round matchup. The 2024 Rookie of the Year finalist has made the fifth-most saves of any goalie this season while logging his third consecutive 20-win campaign. Gardner went 1-1-0-0 versus the Oil Kings with a 4.18 GAA and a .844 save percentage and is one of a handful of Blades skaters who were a part of the team’s impressive run to the 2024 WHL Eastern Conference Championship.

Edmonton: Honestly, take your pick. The Oil Kings have run with a fantastic tandem of second-year Ethan Simcoe and rookie Parker Snell. Both netminders have surpassed 20 wins, while Snell has piled up an impressive three shutouts. Simcoe, a Lac du Bonnet, Man., product, is 2-0-0-0 against the Blades with a 3.00 GAA and .891 save percentage, while St. Albert’s Snell went 1-1-0-0 with a 2.50 GAA and .909 save percentage. Edmonton allowed the fifth-fewest goals of any team this season, and this duo played a key role in that.

X FACTOR

Saskatoon: This series features two 2025 WHL Rookie of the Year finalists in Cooper Williams and Lukas Sawchyn. Williams nearly duplicated last year’s effort with 57 points (23G-34A) in 66 games, including a goal and an assist against the Oil Kings. The Calgary, Alta. product is ranked 42nd among all North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm Rankings for the 2026 NHL Draft.

Edmonton: With former teammate and big brother, Gracyn, graduated to the pro ranks, Lukas Sawchyn has stepped up in a big way for Edmonton. He set career highs across the board with 88 points (27G-61A) and a +34 rating in 68 outings. The 5-foot-10, 174-pound winger didn’t find twine himself, but did put up four helpers in four appearances against the Blades.

2026 WHL PLAYOFFS SERIES SCHEDULE