Ever since Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were drafted, there was one common jab to throw at the Edmonton Oilers. Despite all their attempts to the contrary, signing aging veterans (Hi Alex Chiasson) and betting on players in over their head (if only Tobias Rieder scored those 10 goals) to support the two superstars, you could reliably proclaim that the Oilers were a “two-man team.” That Edmonton’s “depth” was nothing but smoke and mirrors and when it really came down to it, McDavid and Draisaitl were the only things keeping the Oilers from yet another trip to the NHL Draft Lottery. While this may have been true at times in the past, it is no longer the case.
The Oilers depth has been a tremendous part of their season, and has specifically come alive in these playoffs. With the Cup Final now 3–2, let’s take a look at just how deep the Oilers truly are, and how they’ve been able to use this depth to their advantage.
Winning the non-McDavid/Draisaitl minutes
In previous years, the Oilers lived and died by winning the minutes where either one of McDavid, Draisaitl, or both were on the ice. The Oilers regularly control the pace of play when they’re over the boards, and they also hold the statistical advantage. However, it was the non-McDavid/Draisaitl minutes where the team would suffer.
In prior seasons, the Oilers simply didn’t have the production from other members of the team to sufficiently balance the lineup. Even during last year’s run to the Cup Final, per Natural Stat Trick at 5v5 the Oilers were outscored 12 to 21 with McDavid and Draisaitl not on the ice, and had a paltry 36% GF (Goals For) with a below average 44% xGF. That team is remembered as one that had depth, but the stats don’t agree.
This year’s team is a night and day difference. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Oilers have outscored the opposition 24 to 12 at 5v5 without McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice. That’s right, the Oilers have outscored their opponents at a 2–1 rate without their two best players. Edmonton isn’t riding a shooting heater either. Their GF these playoffs without 97 or 29 is 67%, and it’s even above their xGF of 50.5%, showcasing that the Oilers are actually scoring 16.5% better than expected. This is truly a team that has the depth necessary to win a championship, and the stats back it up. This massive jump from last season to now can’t be explained with a single reason, as there’s many factors at play. However, it’s clear that Edmonton is now a team with proper, actual depth, and their ability to succeed in the minutes where Connor and Leon aren’t on the ice is a massive reason why.
Plug and play lineup
Just like one of those old plug n’ play consoles with 50 pre-loaded games, the Oilers have found tremendous success in their ability to add and subtract certain players from the lineup. Kasperi Kapanen only came into the lineup in Game 4 of the Vegas series, but has made a tremendous mark with his forechecking and dogged effort, including the series winner in Game 5 against the Golden Knights.
Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner have both been in and out of the lineup, but both players have had their moments. Arvidsson scored in Game 1 against the Panthers to spark the eventual comeback and although he didn’t score, Skinner played his best game as an Oiler in Game 4 against Florida, combining with Adam Henrique and Trent Frederic to form a very stingy third line.
The Oilers have been able to do the same on defence. Josh Brown and Ty Emberson gave way to John Klingberg and Troy Stecher on the back end, and the return of Mattias Ekholm during the Western Conference Final pushed Stecher back out, although he did replace Klingberg in Game 4 against Florida. The most impressive part of Edmonton’s ability to add and subtract from their lineup is that it hasn’t interrupted any of their systems. The team has been able to play their style regardless of who’s on the bench any given night. You’d think replacing defencemen or forwards would maybe impact chemistry or confidence, but the Oilers haven’t struggled with that concern at all. In fact, this “Next Man Up” attitude has been one of their biggest strengths in this postseason.
Even the goalies have been in and out. Stuart Skinner was pulled after two tough games against Los Angeles, giving Calvin Pickard room to run until his injury in Game 2 of the Vegas series forced Skinner back in. To his credit, Skinner played lights out against Dallas, and has started all four games of the Cup Final although he was pulled in Game 4, a decision not based on his play but rather Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch wanting to try and spark his team. It will be interesting to see whether Edmonton goes with Skinner or Pickard to start Game 6, although there’s reasons to be confident in both being between the pipes.
Deepest in years
This year’s Oilers team is the deepest Edmonton team in years. Unlike the 2021–22 team that was swept by Colorado, last year’s team that came one goal from immortality, or even the Cinderella 2006 squad, these Oilers have the ability to play anyone on the roster with confidence. 20 different Oilers have scored a goal so far this postseason, matching a franchise record from 1984, the year they won their first Stanley Cup. If Edmonton is going to win the franchise’s sixth title, this depth and ability to play anyone in their lineup will be a significant reason why.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
Now go win 2 more game