After playing in each of the past two Stanley Cup Finals, the Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025-26 season with one objective on their mind. After being so close to capturing their ultimate goal, this was meant to be the season where Connor McDavid and company finally brought the Cup back north of the border.
Things have changed drastically since the start of the season, however. The Oilers lost some crucial depth in the offseason and have struggled to play consistent hockey as a result. Through 68 games, their 33-26-9 record has them sitting third in the Pacific Division. They are also just four points up on the LA Kings, who sit one point out of a wild-card spot.
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As the standings indicate, the Oilers are much closer to being a bubble playoff team than a true contender. Granted, you can never count out a team with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but there are few, if any, who feel this will be the season Edmonton gets it done. Despite that feeling like a complete failure to many, however, an early exit from the playoffs may not be the worst thing for this roster.
Oilers Have Played a Lot of Hockey
Going all the way to a Stanley Cup Final is always exhausting. Injuries take their toll, while both physical and mental fatigue comes into play. The Final always rolls into June, meaning that either team playing in it gets just a few short months of rest before training camp resumes in September.
The short amount of rest is why we almost never see teams play in back-to-back Cup Finals. It’s also what makes these recent runs from both the Florida Panthers and Oilers all the more impressive. And, to no surprise, both teams have taken drastic steps backwards this season.
While the Oilers have been an inconsistent bunch, the Panthers are set to miss the playoffs entirely. Injuries have played a big part in their struggles, but it cannot be overlooked how much lengthy playoff runs impact a team.
The Oilers have played a combined 75 playoff games over the past four years. They have also advanced to the Western Conference Final in three of those four years. Their summers have been very short compared to the vast majority of teams around the league, and we may finally be starting to see the negative effect.
On top of that, McDavid and Mattias Ekholm both suited up in the 4 Nations Face-Off, meaning that they got no break during the 2024-25 campaign. The same held true earlier this year, as McDavid, as well as Draisaitl, played in the Olympics. It was even more hockey for three individuals who have played a ton of it as of late.
Rest Will Prove Beneficial
What many are failing to grasp with the Oilers is that, despite losing some depth, they were a very similar team to begin the 2025-26 season. Their entire core group with McDavid, Draisaitl, Ekholm, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard remain in place.
Even with the core in place, the Oilers were a mediocre team to begin the season, and continue to be so now. The one major change has come between the pipes, and has many feeling like the team has made a downgrade going with Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram rather than Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
Based on what we’ve seen from the Oilers’ new duo, there will need to be a change made in the crease once again for the 2026-27 season. Assuming the correct change is finally made from management, getting the long rest that would come from an early playoff exit could, and in all honesty, should, allow for the Oilers to come back a much stronger team next season.