As we get closer to the NHL trade deadline on March 6, there are a few questions that the Edmonton Oilers need to answer. How they answer these questions could determine their chances of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight season. Hopefully, this will give them a better opportunity this time around.
Those questions extend beyond simply adding talent and cut to the core of how the Oilers view themselves as a contender. Are they close enough to trust growth over time, or do they need to shake things up and provide upgrades to address lingering weaknesses?
Are they done shopping for a goalie?
Before the Oilers acquired Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram, the biggest issue that they were facing seemed to be the goaltending. Now that they made a midseason swap from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, it looks as though that may not have been the right move for them to make.
Tristan Jarry started his first few games with Edmonton on a bit of a hot streak before facing an injury that would keep him out of the net for a few weeks. After coming back, he seems to be a bit shaky between the pipes, dropping the ball in five of his last eight starts. He is starting to be slightly inconsistent, which is what we were trying to avoid by moving Stuart Skinner.
Connor Ingram has looked slightly better in net, with a 6–4–1 in his eleven starts with the club. But unfortunately, he is also not looking as consistent as he did when he first joined the Oilers earlier this season. Is this a sign that the Oilers shouldn’t stop looking for a goalie? Or should they give them both a bit more time to settle into their new roles?
Are the Oilers good enough defensively, or just getting by?
Another big problem that the Oilers seem to be having is on the blue line. Their core three lines of Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse-Jake Walman, and Spencer Stastney-Tyler Emberson have seemed to go both ways. They find their groove early and dominate on every rush, or they fall apart, leaving holes all over the ice for opposing teams to tuck one in behind the goalie.
Even with noticeable improvement in structure and team defence, the Oilers should start to treat the 2025–26 NHL season as an opportunity to future-proof their blueline rather than simply react to problems as they arise. Multiple of Edmonton’s current blueliners are either approaching ends of their contracts or entering years where physical decline becomes a potential issue.
Targeting younger, cost-controlled defenders from the 2025–26 trade wire would allow the Oilers to add mobility, puck-moving ability, and defensive reliability without giving up their long-term flexibility. In a Western Conference that continues to build defensive groups, this is something that the Oilers are going to have to look at moving forward.
Along with an addition to the blueline, the Oilers have added Edmonton Oilers legend and last year’s defensive coach, Paul Coffey, back on the bench. Last season, when he was the one overseeing the defensive group, it was one of the best D-core groups we have seen in Edmonton. Would he be able to shake things up enough to get them back to where they were last season?
Depth lines are more crucial than we think: Do we need more from them?
While the top two lines continue to drive offence, the Oilers haven’t consistently gotten reliable two-way play or secondary scoring from their bottom-six. The current bottom-six struggles to keep offensive-zone time, win matchups against other depth units, or provide support when the top lines are on the bench. This puts extra strain on both the defence and the goalie, especially in tight playoff games where mistakes from depth players are quickly exposed.
In the postseason, championship teams usually roll four lines that can defend, forecheck, and contribute important goals. Currently, Edmonton’s bottom-six seems more like a survival unit than a weapon. Until that group becomes more dependable, the Oilers risk being too top-heavy, leaving them vulnerable to teams that have more depth.
In an attempt to build the bottom-six, the Edmonton Oilers should look to add proven bottom-six forwards who can tilt the ice without needing a large amount of minutes. Players like Blake Coleman, Jake DeBrusk, or Brandon Tanev would bring speed, forechecking pressure, and playoff-tested two-way play to a group that too often gets outplayed by the competition.
That style of addition wouldn’t just provide occasional scoring, they would stabilize defensive matchups, win battles, and give Edmonton the ability to roll four lines without having to worry when they are on the ice.
If not all, which would be the most important area for the Oilers to improve before the postseason?
If the Edmonton Oilers can only accomplish one improvement before the postseason, I believe it should be improving their defensive core. Playoff hockey quickly exposes weaknesses. Edmonton’s elite offence can carry games. However, championships are usually decided in tight, low-scoring situations. This is where the Oilers need help.
The Oilers need more consistency in the defensive-zone. They need cleaner breakouts when under pressure. They also require a blue line that can handle heavy forecheckers without overloading their top pairing. Strengthening this would reduce strain on their goaltending. It would allow their stars to spend more time attacking instead of defending. An adjustment that could be the difference between an early exit and a real playoff run.
I could be wrong in all of this, but it is something that we haven’t experimented with a whole lot just yet, and maybe that is the final piece to the puzzle that is the road to winning the Stanley Cup.
What are your thoughts?
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
