In this week’s poll we asked our readers which team they would least like the Edmonton Oilers to face in the first round of the playoffs. Given the standings and the expectations of each team involved, a divisional opponent is most likely but not the only one. Regardless, there are several criteria that could inform each vote, but this exercise does gauge the level of confidence that Oil Country has across these potential matchups.
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Fans don’t want to face the Golden Knights
Leading the way, clearly the foremost perceived threat to the hopes of Oil Country, are the Vegas Golden Knights. Of course, as reigning champions there is a due respect and involved to this result, but the near majority also stems from the Knights eliminating the Oilers from the playoffs last season and, more recently, the snapping of the Oilers near historic win streak.
A force to be reckoned with throughout their existence, the Knights have the skill, experience, and disposition to defeat any opponent. At their best the Knights lineup is four lines and three defence pairing deep. They play decisively, defensively, and possess the physicality to overmatch opponents. A testament to the often years-long process required to win a Stanley Cup, the Knights were able to get the job done last season when relative health, performance, and overall roster quality and depth aligned.
For the time being the Knights are facing some adversity. While the blueline has returned to better health, the Knights are without some of their elite forwards. Jack Eichel appears to be nearing a return, but Mark Stone will likely be out until the playoffs. Regulars William Carrier and Brett Howden are sidelined, as is Pavel Dorofeyev, a young player who might be able to showcase in a depleted lineup.
Facetiously fans of opposing teams will speculate the conscience of the Knights having the ability to take advantage of cap relief while riding out the regular season injuries, using the cap space to add players at the deadline. Knights fans will counter with the fact that the injuries are clearly legitimate, and that the team’s performance has suffered. It was a landslide of injuries that was the main cause of the Knights only season out of the playoff, missing in 2021–22 before winning the Cup last season.
Outside of health, there is little not to like about the Knights chances in defending their title. With a growing rivalry between the Knights and the Oilers, a series between the teams would be fantastic entertainment value. The Oilers will have at least a puncher’s chance in what might be an inevitable showdown between the teams, but as a first-round opponent the Knights are hardly an ideal choice.
Another matchup against the Kings wouldn’t be so bad
A familiar foe, the Oilers have defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. With that said the Kings stay out off of the wish list for Oilers fans, finishing second in this poll. This does show respect to the hard fought nature of the recent playoff series.
Additionally, the Kings are thought to have improved this season over last. There has been turmoil, with now former Coach Todd McLellan being let go, as well as Pierre-Luc Dubois earning criticism, but the Kings remain a dangerous opponent. With some of their young talent, notably Quinton Byfield, coming into their own, the Kings have successfully grafted an infusion of upside onto their veteran core. At the moment, Alex Laferriere, Alex Turcotte, Arthur Kaliyev, Brandt Clarke, and Jordan Spence all find themselves in the lineup. This amount of youth is uncommon for Cup winners, but the Kings do have championship experience, physicality, and defensive ability that can help ground themselves.
With two centres of Selke Trophy reputation in Anze Kopitar and Phillip Danault, the Kings have as good a matchup against Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl as can be found. The team might try to shore up their blueline by adding a physical and defensive left shot behind Mikey Anderson and Vladislav Gavrikov, balancing out their depth of offensive right shot defencemen.
The Oilers would likely be the favourites in this matchup, but fans across Oil Country are leery of the Kings. The strength on strength battle would be a hard fought battle.
Vancouver could be a worthy opponent
Perhaps the most surprising result of our poll is the showing of the Pacific Division leading Vancouver Canucks. Closer to the most favoured opponent, it seems Oil Country might not dislike the idea of an all Canadian first-round matchup. The Canucks have authored a sterling record through the regular season so far, but has the least playoff experience of the voting options, having missed every season since the bubble 2019–20 playoffs. The team has enjoyed an incredible PDO, often described as luck, with their strong goaltending and inflated shooting percentage.
On the other hand, the Canucks still have quite a bit going for them. With elite talent across all positions, the Canucks have difference makers throughout the lineup. Led by Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and Thatcher Demko, the Canucks best players are having vintage seasons. The team has already struck the trade market in efforts to control play, adding Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov already this season.
Of late the Canucks have slowed, which might have impacted the voting here. Despite the criticisms, the Canucks play a unified game with purpose and physicality. Canucks fans will have a lot of faith that their team will be able to succeed in the playoffs, but this confidence might wane if the team falls off their points pace.
For the time being the Canucks are the top seed in the Western Conference, a mantle that might earn the only lopsided first-round matchup. With seven Western Conference teams ahead of the pack, the final wildcard spot will be filled by a team of lesser quality on paper than usual. Paper only means so much, as such a matchup might be a classic upset, even adding to the “President’s Trophy curse.”
A blast from the past against the Stars
Leading our poll, as the most favoured playoff matchup for Oiler fans, are the Dallas Stars. This is by far the least likely, as the Oilers would have to slip down to a wildcard spot. This might be the biggest reason for the result here, as the once great rivals have not been top of mind as an opening round opponent.
The Stars are a formidable opponent, and likely to be a well represented choice to make a deep run in the playoffs. With an ongoing history of playoff success, the Stars are a perennial contender like the Oilers. Sporting elite talents at each position, including Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger, and Jason Robertson, the Stars boast a deep forward group as well.
With a blend of veteran talents like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Joe Pavelski, as well as younger players like Wyatt Johnston, the Stars might be most inclined to add a defensive defenceman at the trade deadline. Thomas Harley has emerged as a high level contributor, which, on paper, makes the Stars more dangerous than they have been in years past.
Interestingly enough the Oilers have lost lopsided playoff series in recent seasons to the Central Division’s other two top teams, the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. These histories might lessen the aura around the Stars, as Oilers fans dread of past failures loom.
At the end of the day there is no ideal matchup, or rather, even an ideal matchup can end in disaster. No playoff opponent should be taken lightly. At the same time, the Oilers will need to defeat them all to achieve their ultimate goal, and they themselves will present a daunting challenge to their opponents.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
