In general, the Edmonton Oilers are entering a make-or-break season. The Stanley Cup-winning window may only be open for another year or two, and the pressure to win has never been higher. Connor McDavid only has two years left on his contract, but he is anything but the main problem in Edmonton.
Many players in the organization need to have a strong season. This includes NHLers, AHLers, and even some prospects. Everyone wants to take a step forward in each season.
Let’s take a look at some players in the Oilers organization who are going into a make-or-break year.
Tristan Jarry, NHL
The main player on the NHL squad who is certainly in a make-or-break season is goaltender Tristan Jarry. The 31-year-old goalie has not lived up to his expectations since joining the Oilers. His poor play in Pittsburgh carried over to the Oilers when he was traded. Through 19 games as an Oiler last year, Jarry posted a decent 9–6–2 record. The only reason why he had a winning record was that the offence bailed him out. Outside of that record, he had a .858 SV% with a 3.86 GAA.
Going into next season, Jarry has only two years left on his contract. The entire organization would love for him to find his game in those final years. However, if he fails to do better in 2026–27, he is probably a lost cause.
Trent Frederic, NHL
Another player from the NHL roster in a make-or-break season is forward Trent Frederic. Now, some may say that he is already hopeless in Edmonton with an awful contract, but I think he deserves one more year to prove himself. The contract he is on was Stan Bowman’s responsibility. Not Frederic’s. He has basically only played one full season as an Oiler. He was part of the 2025 playoff run, but he played only one game for the Oilers during the 2024–25 season. Last year, he appeared in 74 games, posting four goals, seven points, and 58 penalty minutes.
I think this season should provide some hope for Frederic. It took him a couple of seasons to find his footing in Boston, so maybe it will be the same in Edmonton. He still has the potential to be an effective bottom-six forward.
Mattias Janmark, NHL
The last NHLer entering a make-or-break season is Mattias Janmark. Personally, I am very surprised that he is still on the team at this point. I was expecting Janmark to be traded by now, as he is coming off a rough year.
The forward only has one year left on his contract, and he potentially does not even fit in the Oilers lineup anymore. With the emergence of Josh Samanski and the signing of Mathieu Joseph, Janmark’s time as an Oiler may already be over. However, I do believe that he can still be a valid fourth liner and penalty killer. It will be up to him to make an impact early in training camp.
Quinn Hutson, AHL
Quinn Hutson may not be entering a make-or-break season for his career, but he could be entering one within the Oilers organization. Hutson is coming off a dominant season in the AHL and is likely ready to take the next step. Through 67 games last year, Hutson recorded 30 goals and 63 points.
He was also an AHL all-star and made his NHL debut with the Oilers. In four games as an Oiler, Hutson scored his first NHL goal. The forward still has two years left on his contract, so he will still be with the organization for a while. However, I would think Hutson would like, at the minimum, to split his season between the AHL and NHL. Whether it is filling in for injured players or earning a spot in the bottom-six, I think Hutson needs to have more of an NHL based role next season.
Atro Leppanen, AHL
Defenceman Atro Leppanen has been a pleasant surprise in the organization. The 27-year-old defenceman is coming off a solid campaign in the AHL and may be worthy of getting some depth ice time at the NHL level.
Leppanen orginally came over from Finland, where he was dominating as a steady defenceman. In his most previous season in Finland, Leppanen scored 63 points in 60 games, which earned him an AHL contract. His solid play transferred over to the Bakersfield Condors where he was the highest scoring defenceman on the team.
Going into next season, it would be great to see Leppanen take another step forward. I think he must do so to earn any kind of ice time at the NHL level. Unfortunately for him, Spencer Stastney and Ty Emberson block his chances of getting a callup.
Eemi Vinni, AHL
Goaltender Eemi Vinni was just recently signed by the Oilers. He was drafted by the Oilers in the 2024 NHL Draft, and has played in Finland ever since. He has gotten mixed results back home having good and bad stretches. Either way, it was enough to earn him an AHL contract. The reason why this is instantly a make or break season for Vinni is because he joins a crowded goaltending market in Edmonton.
Outside of the NHL the Oilers have Nathaniel Day, Samuel Jonsson, Matt Tomkins, and Connor Ungar. With Vinni joining this group, the need to stand out is at an all time high. It will be interesting to see how all of these goalies deal with that pressure.
Out of these players, who do you think primarily is in need of a great season?
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