Oilers, Taylor Swift, & A Surprise Interaction With Young Fan
This lyric could accurately describe how the Edmonton Oilers began their Game 4 performance on Thursday night. Luckily for Oilers fans, their 'Wildest Dreams' ended up coming true.
Advertisement
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Despite beginning the game in a 0-3 hole, they scratched, clawed, and fought their way back to a 4-3 overtime victory on the backs of clutch performances from Leon Draisaitl and Calvin Pickard, the former scoring the game-winning goal and the latter becoming a brick wall after he stepped in for Stuart Skinner.
Edmonton Oilers Tie Series 2-2 (Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
Trending Oilers Stories
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic EDMONTON – Movies are forever.
Oilers Jake Walman And His Unique Pettiness
Oilers Secretive Of New Victory Song, "Pink Pony Club"
Advertisement
Oilers Stuart Skinner, Darnell Nurse, & More Reveal Movies They Love
New Oilers Defender Has Boxing Legend Lineage
'It's Bananas': Insider Reveals Oilers Needed A New Plan Because Of Taylor Swift
Connor McDavid's Wife Lauren Makes Big Announcement
Connor McDavid's Wife Lauren Makes Big Announcement Lauren Kyle took to her Instagram to make a worthwhile announcement.
Elsewhere, Taylor Swift was in attendance at Game 4, enjoying a view of the game from her suite in Amerant Arena. And at some point during the night, Swift found the time to make one fan's night.
There is a clip on social media of a (presumably) teenage girl interacting with the iconic singer during Thursday night's game. She took several pictures with Swift, who then shook the hands of a few of the adults around the young fan, even saying hi to the fan's (assumed) mother, who was standing inside the box next to Swift's.
Advertisement
You can see the entire interaction below (unfortunately, there is no audio in the clip).
It's quiet moments like this that have helped the legendary singer reach a vast audience, in addition to having incredibly relatable and catchy tunes in her catalog.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Why The NHL Shouldn't Make The 4 Nations Face-Off An Annual Event
By Jack Klinck, The Hockey News intern The success of the 4 Nations Face-Off instead of the NHL All-Star Game had some fans asking, "Why not do this every year?" With all-star games and skills competitions becoming less and less popular across all sports, leagues are constantly looking at ways to squeeze excitement out of these low-effort showings. It seems like the NHL is the first league to crack the code. Want to make all-star weekends more exciting? Scrap them all together. Instead of a breakaway challenge, slam dunk competition or dodgeball game, let players put on their country's colors and play for something they actually want to win. With the excitement of the 4 Nations, it's hard to imagine a return to another NHL All-Star Game in the coming years. With NHL players participating in the Olympics in 2026, fans will get another taste of best-on-best, but after that, it's likely back to the NHL's old all-star ways. But maybe that's a good thing. Connor McDavid seems to think so. He said that best-on-best hockey every two years is enough because of the physical toll it takes on the players. As much fun as the 4 Nations Face-Off has been, Connor, we agree. While playing high-intensity playoff-style hockey instead of having a week-long vacation takes a toll on the players, having international best-on-best hockey every year would diminish the meaning of these tournaments and dilute the quality of play. Part of what has made this tournament so exciting was that it was our first taste of men's international best-on-best hockey since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. It's the rarity that makes it special. For the first time in their careers, the best players in the world could play for their country at the highest level. The NHL caught magic in a bottle with the 4 Nations Face-Off, but it's a magic they can only capture once. Now it's time to tighten the lid and put that bottle back on the shelf. Imagine if every best-on-best tournament ended with a "there's always next year" mentality. Not just that, but a "there's always every year" mentality. The fans would be less interested, and the players would treat it as less of a priority. Take the IIHF's World Championship for example. A tournament of the top hockey countries in the world that sees many NHL players prioritize healing ailments and having a longer off-season over competing for their country. Although the tournament happens in May and usually overlaps with the second round of the NHL playoffs, players such as Connor Bedard, Cale Makar and Cole Caufield were available by that time last season. Not one of them went. The tournament is popular in Europe and has seen countries that likely wouldn't medal in true best-on-best competition like Switzerland, Latvia and Germany leave with some hardware. The worlds also give top prospects a chance to play against high-level professional competition. While the World Championship is great for the game, it should serve as a cautionary tale for the NHL: best-on-best hockey shouldn't be where players go to work on their game or get healthy. It should be the best players in the world playing their best hockey. With NHL Olympic participation in 2026 and the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, we will see international best-on-best hockey at least every two years. And that should be enough. The 4 Nations Face-Off seems like the odd man out. While the NHL seemed to have fixed the All-Star Game this year, it is only a one-time fix. There will still be a February opening in the schedule every second season that the NHL will have to fill. But the league will need to flex its creative muscles as more international hockey is not the way to go. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Jeff Skinner's Last Shot? Sharks Signing Doubles As Potential Trade Deadline Setup
The NHL's free-agent frenzy has died down, but there are still some interesting signings happening, and one of them has us questioning if veteran left winger Jeff Skinner will ever play another Stanley Cup playoff game again. Skinner finally got his first taste of playoff action last year as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. However, Skinner barely played at all for the Oilers, appearing in only five post-season games and averaging just 12:13 of ice time while producing just one goal and two points in that span. The 33-year-old Skinner had waited 15 seasons to get into the playoffs, so needless to say, his lack of playoff success had to be a huge letdown. But now, after not getting sufficient offers from playoff teams, Skinner has signed a one-year, $3-million contract with the San Jose Sharks – a team that, barring an outright miracle, is going to miss out on playoff action this coming season. Of course, there is a road ahead that does see more playoff games for Skinner, but here's how it will have to play out: not only will Skinner have to thrive in San Jose – something that's not assured, given that he produced only 16 goals and 29 points in 72 games with the Oilers last season – but a legitimate playoff team will have to trade for Skinner. Needless to say, that's a situation that isn't guaranteed to happen. But the intriguing part of Skinner signing with the Sharks is that he's one of San Jose GM Mike Grier's strategic moves to bring in veterans he can trade at or before the next NHL trade deadline. Indeed, Grier has used much of his salary cap space this summer on experienced players who still have something to prove. In addition to Skinner, that group of veterans includes former St. Louis Blues defenseman Nick Leddy and former Oilers blueliner John Klingberg, both of whom have only one year left on their current contracts. Add to that mix other Sharks players playing in a contract year – a group that includes winger Carl Grundstrom, winger Alexander Wennberg, enforcer Ryan Reaves, and blueliners Mario Ferraro, Timothy Liljegren and Vincent Desharnais, all of whom will be UFAs next summer – and you have a team that's in a show-me state, playing to get a raise in San Jose or elsewhere next off-season. Amazingly, Skinner's new contract with San Jose includes a full no-trade clause through the end of January 2026. And after that, he has a list of eight teams he'll accept a trade to. But make no mistake, if Skinner truly intends to make more of an impact in the post-season, he's going to be angling to be moved by Grier as we move into the new calendar year. As noted, many of the Sharks are in contract years. And if you include veterans such as defenseman Dmitry Orlov and center Adam Gaudette, each of whom just signed two-year contracts with the Sharks, there's an even bigger group of San Jose players who will be attractive trade targets at next year's trade deadline. All things considered, Grier is going to be able to move a full 11 players who are either entering a contract year or who have one more year remaining on their deals. And that's a tactical asset management maneuver by Grier designed to acquire prospects and draft picks to improve San Jose's fortunes in the long haul. As Grier has constructed his roster, next season will be a prove-it year for many Sharks players, Skinner included. And if Skinner ever intends on playing another playoff game, he's going to have to show teams he still has something left to give. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
New York Times
14 hours ago
- New York Times
What can Edmonton Oilers expect from 2025 European free-agent signings?
The Edmonton Oilers have added multiple wingers this summer, giving those positions a new look. Andrew Mangiapane and Ike Howard came via free agency and trade, respectively. Trent Frederic was a deadline deal re-signed before July 1. Veteran wingers no longer with the club include Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, Evander Kane and Corey Perry. Advertisement The rest of Edmonton's roster — goaltending, defence and centre — was mostly unchanged over the summer. Is the activity from general manager Stan Bowman summed up by Arvidsson, Skinner, Perry and Kane out, and Mangiapane, Howard and Frederic in? If we include top prospect Matt Savoie to make it four wingers out, four wingers in, does that describe the entirety of this offseason? Not quite. There are several players who are 2025-26 roster candidates for Oilers fans to keep in mind. It's especially important to look at the European activity by the organization. Last August, Mark Lazerus at The Athletic wrote about Bowman's time with the Chicago Blackhawks and what it could mean to the Oilers organization. Quoting Lazerus, 'Perhaps Bowman's biggest strength was his ability to land coveted European free agents. Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson, Michal Kempny, Jan Rutta, David Kämpf, Dominik Kahun, Dominik Kubalik and Pius Suter all came over from Europe and made instant impacts.' We've seen a glimpse of what that might look like, and these names represent the hidden gems that could impact the Oilers roster this season and down the line. It's impossible to accurately evaluate European players who sign contracts after age 20. The league they play in, the lack of precise ice times (although the KHL and SweHL totals are widely available) and the absence of North American experience all make projections maddeningly vague. That said, Bowman found a few possible gems this spring and summer in Sweden, Finland and Germany. David Tomasek is the most intriguing name. He led the SweHL in points, and the Oilers won the race to sign him to a one-way deal. That means he'll be paid full freight even if he spends time with the AHL Bakersfield Condors. Tomasek's numbers (24-33-57 in 47 regular-season games, 17:51 per game) show a player who delivered strong offence efficiently at even strength and on the power play. His 20 percent shooting percentage (24 goals in 120 shots) is unlikely to sustain in the NHL, but it represents enough quality to suggest he could have scoring success. Advertisement Atro Leppanen is a chaos defenceman (defined as high risk, high reward) with enough offensive torque to be intriguing. He went 21-42-63 in 60 Liiga (Finland's top pro league) last season, breaking the points record for a defenceman while averaging 23:33 per game. He's 6-foot, 183 pounds and will turn 27 about two weeks before Christmas. His time is now. Leppanen is a left-handed defenceman, so his chances of making the Oilers at any point next season are not high unless injuries hit. Edmonton currently employs veterans Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Brett Kulak and Jake Walman on the left side. Still, the offence delivered by this player suggests it is at least possible he surprises everyone this fall and winter. Viljami Marjala is 22 and ranks as Edmonton's No. 13 prospect currently. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021, he did play two seasons in the QMJHL (Quebec Remparts) and showed great passing ability. That has continued back in Finland, where his 2024-25 boxcars (8-44-52 in 54 games) are extreme for a winger. He averaged 18:26 per game. Marjala does play some centre, and may land a feature role at that position with the Condors this fall. Fans will want to see how much speed he delivers in the AHL. Scouting reports have him as a good skater, but not above average. It's the most common issue for players as they enter the AHL-NHL from Europe. Josh Samanski played in Germany's top league (DEL) one year ago and averaged 18:22 per game. He scored 14-26-40 for the Straubing Tigers, the top point total on the team. Samanski is 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, and should stand out in the crowd in Bakersfield this season. Samanski played in a solid pro league, but it lags behind the SweHL and Liiga in terms of quality. He should fill a middle-six role for the Condors in 2025-26, and at 23, he has room to grow. A good way to handicap each player's spot on the pro depth chart, and chances of making the NHL this coming season, is by looking at the AHL-NHL contracts. Tomasek has a clear shot at making the Oilers this fall. The contract Bowman signed with the player tells us that much. It means he will get a long look in training camp, but it doesn't guarantee a spot on the opening night roster. Tomasek is 29, which is an advanced age for a player to make the jump from a top European league to the NHL. In his Chicago days, Bowman signed younger players. Panarin and Gustafsson were 23 as NHL rookies, Kubalik and Suter 24, Kempny 25, Rutta 27. Advertisement A cynical Oilers fan might point to the legend of Jiri Dopita, who arrived via trade from the Philadelphia Flyers after his NHL debut season, age 32, in 2001-02. He was a disappointment the following season as an Oilers player, and since then, the fan base has been wary of any skater dubbed 'the best player outside the NHL.' Training camp will be here soon, and that will decide the immediate future for all four European free-agent signings. Late September and early October is the period where NHL hopes meet harsh reality. Bowman's European players may not make a dent on the NHL roster, but they are definitely worth the risk. In a time when young Condors should be pushing for NHL time, there is only one forward (Savoie) with a strong chance to make the team. Bowman could sign a bunch of aging NHL free agents in August to value deals, and that may yet come. In the meantime, the four signings from spring will have their say at training camp. The smart betting has Tomasek playing in 40-plus NHL games, Leppanen getting 1-10 games and Marjala and Samanski building their pro resumes in Bakersfield. (Photo of David Tomasek: Daniela Porcelli / Getty Images)
