4 X-Factors for the Oilers in Their First-Round Series Against the Ducks

They didn’t make it easy on themselves, but the Edmonton Oilers are preparing to suit up for their seventh-straight playoff run. It will look different this time around than years past, as, for the first time in five years, it won’t be the LA Kings they are facing, but another California foe in the Anaheim Ducks.

The Oilers, despite struggling throughout the vast majority of the 2025-26 season, have been playing some of their best hockey as of late. To no surprise, it has both fans and pundits believing they are capable of going on another lengthy playoff run. That said, it’s important that they don’t overlook the Ducks.

Based on a large sample size, Oilers fans can expect Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard to dominate as they tend to do in the postseason. The same can likely be said for Zach Hyman, and would absolutely be said for Leon Draisaitl if his injury status wasn’t so uncertain. With Draisaitl’s health in question, however, the Oilers will need others to step up, and these four are more capable of being X-factors than anybody else on this roster.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Some would suggest Ryan Nugent-Hopkins deserves to be lumped in as a player everyone should expect to produce. There’s an argument to be made, as the 33-year-old boasts impressive postseason numbers throughout his career with 81 points in 96 games.

That said, many will admit that there are stretches where Nugent-Hopkins, even when putting up points, can provide little to no impact. With Draisaitl potentially playing at less than 100 per cent, the Oilers will need the 2011 first-overall pick to be at his best from start to finish these playoffs.

Jake Walman

Oilers fans are still undecided on whether the seven-year, $49 million deal that Jake Walman signed last offseason was worth it. His 2025-26 season was quite up and down, causing some concern that his contract could wind up being one that becomes a problem for the Oilers down the road. That said, there have been glimpses of how good he can be.

Take last year’s playoffs, for example, where he racked up 10 points in 22 games and was a thorn in the side of his opponents each and every game. When at his best, he is an exceptional puck mover who covers both ends of the ice well thanks to his skating ability. The Oilers blue line isn’t as deep this season as it has been in other playoff runs, making it detrimental that Walman is at his best.

Matt Savoie

Anybody who may have been growing slightly impatient with Matt Savoie through the first half of the 2025-26 season certainly has a different opinion now. The highly-skilled 22-year-old has really broken out as of late, as indicated by his nine goals and 19 points through the final 24 games of the season. The question now is whether or not he can carry that production into the postseason.

One concern regarding Savoie is his size, as he’s listed at just 5-foot-10, 179 pounds. While it remains to be seen how he adapts to the physicality the postseason provides, the fact that he’s spent most of his time lately on a line with Connor McDavid bodes well to his success in the short-term future. Should he continue producing like he has, the Oilers have a great shot at advancing past the first round.

Vasily Podkolzin

Vasily Podkolzin is the perfect example as to what a change of scenery can do for a player. After struggling to get into the Vancouver Canucks lineup for a number of seasons, he has become a major presence in the Oilers’ middle six. While his first season in Edmonton was impressive, he was even better in 2025-26 with 19 goals and 37 points.

While the Oilers would love for Podkolzin’s secondary scoring to continue, he provides far more than just that. He is one of the more physical forwards in all of the NHL, and will never hesitate to drop the gloves when necessary. Should he continue to make his presence felt around the ice, it will help open up plenty of ice for the Oilers’ stars to do their work.

Oilers Set as Heavy Favourites

Though there are never easy outs in the NHL, the vast majority of pundits and fans alike believe the Oilers will be successful in this series should they play their best. Not only do they boast more top-end skill than the Ducks, but they also have significantly more playoff experience. Should the four players above provide positive impacts, the Oilers will more than likely be headed off to the second round.