Sitting out most of their top players (Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Mattias Ekholm and Jake Walman) gave the Edmonton Oilers coaches an opportunity to see what the prospects, bubble players and blue-collar depth guys could do on their own.

And they did a pretty good job of it.

The Oilers were full marks for a 4-0 win over the visiting Winnipeg Jets and while the game meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, it provided the staff with some valuable and uplifting information.

Starting with Noah Philp. The 27-year-old centre made it a goal and two assists in his last two games after he scored on a quick release from between the face-off circles (courtesy of a nice zone entry and pass from Troy Stecher). The Oilers aren’t looking for him to be an offensive stalwart, just a dependable right-shot centre on the fourth line and Philp fits that bill.

But chipping in some offence only bolsters an already strong case. Philp can see the pot of gold from where he’s standing and knows that he controls his own destiny at this point.

“They always say, and it’s true, that it’s up to you,” said the 6-foot-3, 198-pounder. “.How you play and how you show up. I’m just trying to do that the best I can.”

He’s already shown he can play in the league (15 games in Edmonton last year) and looks poised to start the year here. If it’s going to happen for him, this is the year.

“We want guys who play the right way, especially in the bottom six, who give us some physicality, speed and size,” said head coach Kris Knoblauch. “He fits that bill. He’s been playing well and that’s what we expect from him.”

That fourth-line centre spot is there for the taking and from what Knoblauch sees, Philp has an inside track.

“Ideally, that role would be some physicality, maybe a little bit of s shutdown, responsible centre, strong on the draws and on the penalty kill,” said Knoblauch. “That’s ideally what we’d be getting and he’s checking a lot of those boxes right now and hopefully as we get going, he can check all of them.”

Josh Samanski, who put a major league shot under the crossbar to make it 2-0 finished with a goal and an assist. It won’t be enough to make him an Oiler out of camp, but the 23-year-old German League free agent is leaving a solid impression.

He’s big, fast and likes to battle for the puck.

“I thought he got off to a really slow start in the rookie camp,” said Knoblauch. “You’re anticipating him showing a little more than he was, just because he’s a little bit older than most of the guys in rookie camp.

“But, from Day 1 of Main Camp, he’s showed very well. He’s a smart hockey player, he’s skating much better now. He’s looking like a player who has the promise of being in the NHL at some point.

“Most likely he’s not on our team this year but certainly down the road I can see him being part of it.”

The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder wants to hang around as long as he can and based on camp so far he’ll be a late cut.

“No matter what’s going to happen, it helps me a lot being around the guys who are here,” he said. “I’m learning and trying to do the right things, what they do on and off the ice and I think I’m growing as a player and a person.”

Matt Savoie, working on the PK, showed some high-end game when he broke up a pass in the defensive zone, outraced the Winnipeg defenders and sent a perfect saucer pass to Andrew Mangiapane at full speed. It would have been a beautiful shorthanded goal if not for a nice pad save. He also drew a late third-period penalty with another burst of speed. A skill player with NHL speed who kills penalties? That’s a good way to get earn a job in the big leagues.

Calvin Pickard posted a 21-save shutout, which should hopefully quell some of the nonsensical bleating about the Oilers picking up Utah castoff Connor Ingram… Hobby Baker winner Ike Howard is still waiting for his breakout game or moment. He had the play die with him a couple of times in the first period and took a tripping minor after turning the puck over. He showed some bursts, though.

Winnipeg’s Tyrel Bauer and Edmonton’s Josh Brown squared off for a solid, old school hockey fight midway through the second period. There wasn’t a lot of wrestling from a couple of heavyweights who locked up and traded punches.

It was surprisingly feisty for a pre-season game. Kasperi Kapanen made it 4-0 and then go tossed from the game when a scrum ensued, picking up two roughing minors and a misconduct.

E-mail: rtychkowski@postmedia.com