Oilers
A preview of the 2025-26 NHL season for the Edmonton Oilers, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Andrew Mangiapane, Curtis Lazar, Isaac Howard, Matt Savoie, David Tomasek
Key Departures: Connor Brown, Corey Perry, Evander Kane, Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, John Klingberg, Derek Ryan
Overview
Four consecutive 100+ point seasons,12 playoff series wins, including back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. But what still eludes Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and their Oilers teammates is hoisting the Stanley Cup. The offseason saw the departures of Evander Kane, Connor Brown and Corey Perry, replaced by Andrew Mangiapane, Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie. Still to be answered is the future of McDavid, who is entering the final year of his deal and has yet to sign an extension.
Offense
The Oilers dropped from fourth to 11th in goals scored last season, but much of that can be attributed to the combined 26 games missed by McDavid and Draisaitl. Draisaitl led the team with 52 goals,106 points and 240 shots on goal. He is the only player to post four 50-goal seasons in the last seven years. Despite playing in just 67 games, McDavid recorded his fifth consecutive 100-point season and has done so eight times in his 10-year career. Edmonton had 10 players with double-digit goal totals, but outside of Connor and Leon, they did not have a forward with more than 47 points. Perry had 19 goals in the regular season and was second on the team in the playoffs with 10, but he signed a free agent deal in Los Angeles.
The Oilers will be without Zach Hyman until at least November, as he is still recovering from a dislocated right wrist injury he suffered
in last year’s Western Conference Final.
Defense
The Oilers blue line has its warts, yet Edmonton has made back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Finals with this group. Evan Bouchard has become one of the most prolific offensive defensemen in the game, earning him a new four-year, $42 million contract. His 55 points in the Oilers’ last two playoff runs ranks him third behind only Connor and Leon for most points among all NHL players. Mattias Ekholm, when healthy, is one of the best shutdown defensemen in the game. Jake Wallman can play in all situations and his 49 blocked shots in the playoffs led the league, while Darnell Nurse can be a solid defender, but the lapses in his game tend to overshadow his overall performance.
Goaltending
It is the hot-button topic in Edmonton and what many feel is holding Edmonton back in winning a Stanley Cup. Stuart Skinner’s inconsistent play had him sharing the net with backup Calvin Pickard in the playoffs. After giving up 15 goals in his first three starts, he reeled off three shutouts and two games of surrendering just one goal in five of his next six before giving up 19 goals in the Cup Finals. Skinner is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Calvin Pickard remains as the backup goalie.
Player to Watch
The Oilers are looking to 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner Isaac Howard to not only crack the lineup this season, but make an impact. Last year at Michigan State, his 1.41 points per game led the NCAA, as he scored 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games.
Outlook
Oilers fans won’t be able to rest until McDavid puts pen to paper on a contract extension. “All options are on the table, really,” McDavid said. “We’re going through it. I don’t have a preference either way. I want the group to be as focused and dialed in and ready to roll from Day 1 as much as possible, and we don’t need any distractions.” At the same time, until he decides one way or the other, he will be a major distraction. Regardless of what happens with the contract, I see a highly-motivated McDavid this season. His goal prop is 35.5 and he has cashed this in four of his last five seasons when playing at least 76 games.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 103.5
To Make the Playoffs: -1200
To Miss the Playoffs: +700
To Win the Pacific Division: +155
To Win the Western Conference: +425
To Win the Stanley Cup: +850
2024-25 Recap
Record: 48-29-5, 101 points (3rd Pacific)
Over/Under: 36-43-3
Home Favorite: 25-12 // Home Dog: 0-4
Road Favorite: 16-15 // Road Dog: 4-4
Win Score 4 or more: 30 of 48 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 23 of 34
Puck Line Wins: 25 of 48 // Puck Line Losses: 18 of 34
Front End Back-to-Back: 7-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 6-7
Points Leader: Leon Draisaitl – 106
Goal Leader: Leon Draisaitl – 52
Assist Leader: Connor McDavid – 74
Shots on Goal Leader: Leon Draisaitl – 240
Blocked Shots Leader: Darnell Nurse – 136
Depth Chart
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Connor McDavid / Zach Hyman
Andrew Mangiapane / Leon Draisaitl / Vasily Podkolzin
Isaac Howard / Trent Frederic / Adam Henrique
Matt Savoie / Mattias Janmark / Kasperi Kapanen
Defense
Mattias Ekholm / Evan Bouchard
Darnell Nurse / Brett Kulak
Jake Wallman / Ty Emberson
Goalies
Stuart Skinner / Calvin Pickard
Power Play Unit 1
Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Evan Bouchard
