The Edmonton Oilers’ disappointing 2025-26 season took a huge blow on Tuesday morning. After being forced to leave Monday’s game versus the Nashville Predators after taking a check from Ozzy Wiesblatt, it has been confirmed that Leon Draisaitl will miss the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury.
Even if the Oilers had been playing their best hockey this season, this news would be extremely devastating. After all, Draisaitl is having another phenomenal campaign with 35 goals and 97 points through just 65 games. When in with the team’s 33-26-9 record, it’s easy to understand why there is such concern among Oilers fans.
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One of the biggest issues with the Oilers this season has been their depth. They haven’t gotten much secondary scoring, which has played a big part in their rather mediocre record. That depth will be tested to an entirely different level now, meaning that if the Oilers want to make the playoffs, they will need far more contributors to step up. These four in particular will have a massive part as to whether or not the two-time Western Conference champs will stay alive in the postseason hunt.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Though the Oilers have been a frustrating bunch in 2025-26, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins quietly continues to be as reliable as ever. After a bit of a down season by his standards in 2024-25, he’s bounced back as expected with 17 goals and 50 points through 58 games.
As good as Nugent-Hopkins has been this season, however, his production has dipped since the Olympic break. Over his last 11 games, he’s managed just six points. That’s gone largely unnoticed due to Edmonton’s two big guns continuing to light up the scoresheet, but with Draisaitl now out, the Oilers will need more consistent production for the remaining 14 games from the 2011 first-overall pick.
Jack Roslovic
Though he’s been inconsistent, most if not everyone would agree that signing Jack Roslovic was a good move by the Oilers. The highly-skilled 29-year-old has a solid 17 goals and 28 points through his first 55 games in Edmonton. That said, nine of those goals and 14 of those points came in the month of November.
Aside from his incredible month of November, Roslovic has struggled to have much offensive success with the Oilers. He’s proven that he can produce, and with Draisaitl gone, his team is going to need him to dial up his play to the level it was at earlier in the season.
Trent Frederic
Trent Frederic has been playing some better hockey as of late, though he still hasn’t come close to living up to the eight-year, $30.8 million extension he signed last offseason. The 28-year-old has just four goals and one helper through 65 games in what has been a season to forget for the former Boston Bruins agitator.
Frederic was never expected to be a massive offensive producer for the Oilers, but was certainly meant to provide more impact than he has thus far. There will be plenty more opportunity for him and several others going forward, and finishing things out strong would go a long way in quieting the outside noise surrounding his contract.
Matt Savoie
One of the biggest positives for the Oilers as of late has been the play of Matt Savoie. The rookie winger has struggled throughout the vast majority of the season, but has played his best hockey as of late, scoring two goals and nine points in 10 games since the Olympic break.
Savoie’s improved play has resulted in him recently being placed on a line with Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman. So far, he’s delivered, and should continue to get an opportunity on that line for the time being. If he is able to continue producing at a similar clip to what he’s done as of late, it will go a long way in helping the Oilers overcome this massive loss.
Depth Has Opportunity to Change Narrative
Though it’s drawn more scrutiny this season, depth being questioned is nothing new for the Oilers. It’s been an issue that’s been harped on for years, as far too often McDavid and Draisaitl have been tasked with carrying this team offensively.
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While this Draisaitl situation is far from ideal, it does give others on the Oilers the opportunity to step up and prove that this team has better depth than what they are being credited for. If that depth is able to step up for the remainder of the regular season, the narrative on this team could change drastically between now and the playoffs.
