Knoblauch gives Tristan Jarry the crease Thursday as major lineup questions remain

The X update below points to a real Oilers roster swing, not a throwaway morning note.

Jarry carries a $5,375,000 cap hit through 2027-28, Hyman is at $5,500,000 through 2027-28, and Frederic is in year 1 of an eight-year deal at $3,850,000.

That's the cap side. The hockey side is cleaner: Edmonton wants a firmer crease decision, heavier forecheck pressure, and one more trusted body if Hyman can't go.

Jarry's start lands with some risk. He has a 17-9-2 record for Edmonton, but his .883 save percentage says the crease still isn't locked down.

Frederic's return matters more than his 4 goals in 67 games suggest. His deal says management sees him as a roster piece, and Thursday is about getting his pace and board work back into the bottom six.

Hyman is the hinge point. He has 31 goals in 56 games, so if he sits, the Oilers lose straight-line finish around the blue paint and one of their best net-front looks.

Edmonton enters Thursday at 38-28-9 and hosts a Chicago club that sits at 27-34-14. This is the kind of game a contender has to control early.

So this isn't just about who dresses. It's about whether Knoblauch is settling the crease for the stretch and whether Frederic can earn a real April role before the games tighten.

If Jarry gives them a calm first period, the story moves toward playoff trust. If he wobbles, the crease talk gets loud again fast.

And if Hyman can't answer the bell, Frederic being in becomes even more than depth. It becomes roster construction meeting game-night pressure in real time.