Into the 20s we go.
So far it’s been quite a ride through Edmonton Oilers history. The first 20 digits saw more than half of the team’s retired numbers come off the board in Al Hamilton (#3), Paul Coffey (#7), Glenn Anderson (#9), Mark Messier (#11), and Jari Kurri (#17), and we are now entering more difficult territory.
As we enter part three of this series, we have finally encountered our first set of 10 that has no jersey retirements, though that may change in the next 10 to 20 years. We have seen players that have spanned every single decade of the the team’s existence from original Oilers like Dave Lumley to ‘90s icons with Kelly Bucherberger, Shawn Horcoff’s legacy of the 2000s, Eberle’s brilliance in the 2010s, and finally Zach Hyman’s short, but memorable, current stint with the club.
That trend will continue on here as we tackle numbers 21 to 30.
#21 – Jason Smith
Outside of Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid, Jason Smith might be the most memorable captain in Oilers history.
Gator, as many fans know him by, was traded to Edmonton way back in 1999 from the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had already been in the league for about five seasons at that point and was struggling to find a permanent spot—a spot that would eventually be found in Edmonton.
Smith was named captain of the team in 2000 and served in that role for seven seasons. He never lit the world on fire with his offence, with a career-high 20 point season, but he was reliable and dependable presence on the blue-line. He also was the captain of the team during the 2006 Stanley Cup run and came one win away from shaking hands with Gary Bettman and accepting the cup.
Plenty of love still emanates for Gator even today in Oil Country.
#22 – Charlie Huddy
We’ve talked a lot recently about role forwards on the dynasty Oilers, but not a lot about role defenders.
Charlie Huddy is arguably THE role defender on the ‘80s Oilers. That isn’t to say he was a slouch, in fact it’s a toss-up whether or not he or Steve Smith was the third best defender on that team behind Paul Coffey and Kevin Lowe.
He was a member of all five Edmonton Stanley Cup winners and put up over 300 points as an Oiler. Tyson Barrie was contemplated in this spot but considering the legacy and success that Huddy left behind, he was the obvious choice here.
#23 – Matt Hendricks
I bet you didn’t expect to see this name on the list.
Yes, Matt Hendricks was not the most skilled or flashy of a player (unless it was the shootout) to play for the Oilers, but in true Edmonton spirit, he was able to garner a huge liking among the fanbase.
Acquired back in 2014 in exchange for Devan Dubnyk, Hendricks provided a gritty and tough element to the Oilers bottom six. His tenure included a whopping 24 fights between 2014 and 2016, and just 38 points in a little over 200 games.
This all goes without mentioning his patented “Paralyzer” that wreaked havoc on goaltenders in the shootout throughout his entire 607-game career.
#24 – Steve Staios
Before Steve Staois was the GM heir apparent in Edmonton, he was known as “Steady Steve” on the Oilers blueline.
Staois had a very good tenure in Edmonton between 2001 and 2009 as a defensive defender. His career high in points was just 28, but was almost irrelevant to the reason why he was such a valuable player for the Oilers for eight years.
Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, it is no wonder where Staios inherited his work ethic and ability to somehow give 100 percent each and every shift. I wouldn’t say he was a star during his time with the team, but he was more than just a depth defender.
He may very well go down as one of the team’s hardest working players of all-time.
#25 – Darnell Nurse
We have hit another current player!
Yes, Darnell Nurse is a contentious player on the Oilers and many people have criticized his game, myself included, but it’s hard to say that he isn’t a very good hockey player.
The hulking defender had offensive ability coming out of his draft and he has taken full advantage of sharing the ice with the best player on the planet. Nurse provides rare mix of bite and skill that isn’t often seen around the league which makes him a valuable piece.
Now, is that $9M worth of value? Probably not and he will most likely slide down to the second pairing next season. However, as his offensive game reaches it’s plateau, there has been considerable improvement in his defensive ability over the last few seasons.
He ranks fourth all-time in Oilers defensive scoring and could breach the top three if he plays out the rest of his contract in Edmonton.
#26 – Todd Marchant
We go back to the ‘90s with Todd Marchant.
Marchant cut his teeth during one of the most interesting eras of the team, the late 1990s. The first half of his tenure featured countless playoff battles with both the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche. It was here where Marchant made a name for himself as a two-way centerman with blazing speed.
That speed was never more apparent than the Game 7 overtime series-clinching goal that he scored against the Stars in the first round of the 1997 playoffs. The goal would surely make it onto the Mount Rushmore for iconic Oiler moments and epitomized the “put your head down and work” attitude that the team adopted in those years.
That goal alone, not to mention the 343 points in an Oilers uniform over 10 seasons, gets Marchant the spot with #26.
#27 — Dave Semenko
This player holds a special spot in Oilers history.
Dave Semenko is a player that simply does not exist in today’s game. Rarely, if ever, do we see an enforcer that is quite as beloved as Semenko is in Edmonton. Almost every interview with members of that dynasty will go on and on about how important Semenko was to their success and they mean it.
Semenko was never going to be the guy that wins you hockey games, but he was an essential part in making sure guys like Gretzky, Kurri, Anderson, and Coffey could do their thing. His mere presence was a nuclear deterrent for the other team take liberties on Edmonton’s stars.
He backed this up time and time again, laying beatings on anybody who dared to look at the team’s stars the wrong way. Hell, you could credit him as one of the founder of the Battle of Alberta as his legendary fights with Tim Hunter helped spark the rivalry in the first place.
More skilled players have worn the #27 in Oilers history, but all of them pale in comparison of Semenko.
#28 – Mike Krushelnyski
Mike Krushelnyski is a player that probably should get talked about more in terms of his impact on the ‘80s Oilers.
The Montreal native arrived on the team from the Boston Bruins in a trade that saw Ken Linsemen leave Edmonton back in 1984. He then played in an Oilers uniform in for four season where he won three cups and played a decent role with in championship.
Due to the team being stacked, Krushelnyski spent most of those seasons playing in a third line role. He was able to notch 88 points in 1984–85 which would be a career high. While his regular season stats declined in the years following that, Krushelnyski was one of Edmonton’s best performers in the playoffs. In all he was able to capture 39 points in 68 playoff games with the club.
Though, it seems all anybody will remember about Krushelnyski is being an add-on in the trade that saw Wayne Gretzky get sent to Los Angeles.
#29 – Leon Draisaitl
This wasn’t even close.
Leon Draisaitl arrived to the Oilers with high expectation but still managed to absolutely shatter them. I remember being 14 years old watching the draft and thinking “man, wouldn’t it be nice if Draisaitl became our Anze Kopitar?” and boy was I wrong in the best way imaginable.
Draisaitl is every bit the power-forward you would desire, complete with a bit of a mean streak, but he adds a rare blend of both elite playmaking ability and elite finishing ability to take it to a whole other level.
Outside of maybe McDavid, I don’t know if I can name a player who can simultaneously make impossible passes on a nightly basis while also being a perennial 50-goal scorer. Of course, the goalscoring gets all the attention, only Gretzky and Kurri have more 50-goal campaigns than Draisaitl’s three, but man is he a treat to watch passing the puck.
To add to this, Draisaitl also has a Hart Trophy to back up his status. If he continues on this trend he will be the last Oiler to wear #29.
#30 – Bill Ranford
In the pantheon of Oilers goaltenders, Bill Ranford is near the top.
Ranford joined Edmonton in 1986 in a swap that sent Andy Moog to the Boston Bruins. However, it wouldn’t be until the 1989–90 season that he would get tapped as the team’s starter and man did that go well.
The regular season was par for the course for the Oilers, who finished second in their division behind the Calgary Flames, but it was the playoffs where Ranford really announced his presence. In 22 games, Ranford posted a .912 SV% and a 16–6 record that helped Edmonton win it’s only cup without Gretzky on the roster.
He was further awarded for his efforts with the Conn Smyth for playoff MVP, becoming the only goalie in Oiler history to win the award. While this was his high point with the club, Ranford spent five more seasons with the club and is second in franchise wins with 167, and first in games played with 449.
Easily the best player to don the #30 between the pipes for the Edmonton Oilers.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
