The Edmonton Oilers face off against the Winnipeg Jets tonight in a preseason game, and there will be some big tests for three specific players. As training camp gets going, the Edmonton Oilers have a number of players who'll challenge for that fourth-line center position currently held by 37-year-old veteran Derek Ryan. Coach Kris Knoblauch is champing at the bit to get a look at these players, and tonight's game will give him just that. That would include Noah Philp, Lane Pederson, and James Hamblin, who will get a chance to show their skills and make their claim to the position. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/JasonGregor/status/1838998213900251471'> </a></blockquote></div> Coach Knoblauch said he is especially anxious to see how those players do against the Winnipeg Jets' veteran players, which would include Mark Scheifele. According to insider Jason Gregor, <a href='https://illegalcurve.com/winnipeg-jets-pre-season-game-3-roster-and-projected-lines-vs-oilers/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>the game with the Jets</a> would be one of the big tests to show how each player was going to perform under pressure, competing against NHL-experienced talent. The ability of these hopefuls to perform against top competition will likely mean the difference in earning a spot on the Oilers' roster. One of the challenges this year is the Oilers do have an aging lineup, with two forwards, Derek Ryan and Corey Perry, closing in on 40 years of age. The depth within the team has given them the flexibility to not have to play the veterans as much this season. Evidence of this is the competition for the fourth-line center position, with guys like Philp, Hamblin, and Pederson creating new options that can take some load off the older players. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/NHLJets3/status/1839022192664657991'> </a></blockquote></div> Noah Philp is a 26-year-old returning pro after taking a year off and came into training camp making a strong impression. With his physical conditioning, faceoff ability, and dependable two-way play, Philp has certainly emerged as one of the serious candidates for the position. James Hamblin, though, has separated himself with pure speed and growing abilities on the penalty kill, <a href='https://www.oilersdaily.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/oilers-coach-knoblauch-testing-three-specific-players-in-tonight-game' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>making him another solid candidate</a>. Both have garnered strong reviews from coach Knoblauch and would seem to be legitimate possibilities. For comparison, Lane Pederson has not distinguished himself at camp and is considered a question mark. With only five preseason games remaining in front of the Oilers' October 9th regular season opener against the Jets, the battle for roster spots is on. Every shift will count for these youngsters, with the next few games telling the tale whether they can carve out a niche with the team. An opportunity to chip in on a veteran-laden roster awaits, but it will take an all-out effort and consistency.