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The Edmonton Oilers are a rare NHL team. They’re a strong Stanley Cup contender but have a roster with serious questions in important areas of the depth chart. The club is in the championship window and the extension impact centre Leon Draisaitl signed would seem to ensure that window stays open through the end of the decade.
Advertisement There is urgency on right defence, and there’s a good chance the current depth chart at that position will experience major change over the coming six months. One year ago , the Oilers had one, maybe two spots open on the roster. This year? Right defence (second and third pairing), fourth-line centre and covering for any injuries that arise before opening night.
Here’s a look by position. Goaltenders One year ago, we were discussing Stuart Skinner as a possible long-term option due to the uneven play of veteran Jack Campbell . One year on, Campbell is a member of the Detroit Red Wings while Skinner is firmly ensconced as Edmonton’s No.
1 goaltender. The cap numbers make more sense now, with both Skinner ($2.6 million AAV) and NHL backup Calvin Pickard ($1 million) likely to deliver more than value in 2024-25.
It’s notable that the Oilers have had a strong run over the past several years in drafting and developing goaltenders. Skinner represents a rare Oilers pick who has emerged as a homegrown starter, joining some outstanding company in Andy Moog, Grant Fuhr and Devan Dubnyk . Edmonton also has Olivier Rodrigue , another draft pick who has been developing in the minors over the past several years.
He will battle free-agent pickup Collin Delia for the first recall job, and it’s possible the Oilers will employ two goaltenders from the system at some point this season. The last time that happened came 15 years ago when Dubnyk and Jeff Deslauriers manned the position as a tandem. Edmonton in goal is solid, inexpensive and trending in a good direction.
Left defence This is one of the areas of great strength for Edmonton entering the season. The top trio carries with it some age and danger of injury, but each of Mattias Ekholm , Darnell Nurse and Brett Kulak have been healthy enough to answer the call consistently over the last couple of seasons. An injury to Nurse during the Stanley Cup Final last spring is still lingering.
Rumour has it he will be ready for the start of the regular season, but that’s something for Oilers fans to watch over the rest of September. A minor story when the news arrived (as it had been out there for some time), Travis Dermott on a PTO could be a big item if he makes the team. The Oilers may want the No.
7 defenceman to have utility, and Dermott can play either side (he is left-handed). Advertisement If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup in 2025, the names who occupy left defence will be central to the team’s success. This is a quality depth chart.
Right defence The position that will keep general manager Stan Bowman up at night is right defence. The Oilers have one of the most valuable young defenders in the NHL, then drop a long way in terms of quality at this position. Evan Bouchard could win the Norris Trophy in 2024-25, which is difficult for a puck mover, but his outscoring results five-on-five are exceptional.
After that? There are going to be some NHL auditions, beginning with Troy Stecher and Ty Emberson . The coaching staff, led by Kris Knoblauch, are likely to run the top pairing (Ekholm-Bouchard) as a super No. 1 duo.
That means heavy minutes versus elites, and protecting the second and third group. Nurse, when healthy, should be able to handle tough minutes if his partner (ideally the veteran Stecher) can handle the load. That leaves Kulak and Emberson on a pairing that looks good on paper and should return more than 50 percent of the outscoring results.
Josh Brown projects as an extra defenceman, well behind the slot Vincent Desharnais (a similar player in style) occupied on this roster last season. The one player ticketed for the Condors who could make a huge impression in training camp is Max Wanner. There’s a job on this roster, it is unlikely to go to a prospect, but Wanner can make it difficult for the coaching staff by playing his rugged and effective defensive style.
Centre Among all NHL teams, none possess a stronger depth chart at a single position than Edmonton at centre. In Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers own peak hockey this decade and all of the team’s overall success is driven by the heart of the order at centre. Past McDavid and Draisaitl, Adam Henrique ’s return represents a strong move by management.
There are enough pieces on this roster to ice three outscoring lines, the first two offering impact scoring. Edmonton, at centre, has the look of a champion. The fourth-line battle in training camp may be even more interesting than the contest to find a second-pairing right-side defenceman.
Advertisement Derek Ryan enters camp as the favourite, but foot speed is a concern. The former University of Alberta Golden Bears pivot is one of the smartest players in the league, but age (he’s 37) is undefeated and he no longer has the wheels to play in the middle. Among those are will push for that job this fall is another Golden Bears alumni.
Noah Philp is the ideal solution for Edmonton at this position. He is a right-handed centre, can penalty kill, plays with a rugged edge and has enough skill to project as an outscorer in a support role. He’ll have to shake off the rust from a season away from the game, but he’s one to watch during training camp this fall.
Left wing For several seasons, the Oilers have been running natural centres on the wing. This gives the roster greater utility and allows the coaching staff to mix and match based on injury and slumps. Running Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on left wing is the probable alignment, but when Evander Kane is back to full health, Edmonton’s coaching staff could slide RNH into the middle and run Kane on a skill line.
The third line left wing job will be a contest between effective two-way veteran Mattias Janmark and new acquisition Vasily Podkolzin . The Oilers might like to platoon the two men on the third (Henrique) line depending on style of opponent and who is running hot. Roby Jarventie , who has battled injuries, could be a strong contender for work if he is healthy this season.
Some of the AHL names mentioned at centre (specifically James Hamblin ) and also play the wing. The biggest question for fans this fall in regard to the left wings: Will Jeff Skinner play with McDavid? Right wing The Oilers’ issues on right defence are clear. Worries on right wing are less obvious but could hinder another trip to the final.
Zach Hyman is coming off a 54-goal season and is an impact winger of the first order. He is also 32 and outscored his best season by a mile in 2023-24. Regression would appear likely.
Add in the recent injury history of new arrival Viktor Arvidsson and Corey Perry ’s slow boots and right wing may not be as rosy as it appears. Connor Brown could emerge as an important player for Edmonton at this position. He struggled mightily last season but turned a corner after the deadline and was part of an effective five-on-five and PK unit down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Raphael Lavoie is seldom mentioned as a possible regular for this season but he is well-situated for insertion if injuries hit the depth chart. Advertisement Based on quotes from management, the expectation of Matt Savoie is a year in the minors and plenty of time at centre. Things change, and he has high-end skill and might be in the NHL on a scoring line by Christmas.
Both Lavoie and Savoie, along with defenceman Wanner and centre Philp, have the best chance among rookies to play a lot in the season to come. Bottom line A predictable chain of transactions is likely on the way out of Oilers camp this fall. Injuries are always a concern, and there’s no one like Dylan Holloway or Philip Broberg pushing a veteran out of a foundation position (top two lines, top two pairings, starting goalie and third-line centre) to start the season.
Expect a long audition at right defence for Stecher and Emberson. Expect a lot of discussion around what to do with Kane’s cap room when he is out rehabbing after surgery. Based on everything we know today, the organization appears ready to give full chances to Stecher and Emberson on defence and look internally for a centre solution on the fourth line.
If the players chosen to fill holes struggle, expect a trade. Management will attempt to get this roster to the deadline before making some noise around rental additions. (Photo of Evan Bouchard, Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman: Paul Swanson / NHLI via Getty Images).
