Edmonton Oilers News, Stats & Fan Discussion

Alex Formenton’s one-year, $850,000 deal was driven mainly by Edmonton’s need for penalty-killing help after Matt Savoie’s injury and Adam Henrique’s departure. His past PK numbers are promising, but after more than 1,500 days away from the NHL and modest production in Switzerland, he looks more like a fourth-line gamble than a top-nine solution. He may get the opening-night nod, but likely has until Savoie returns to prove the experiment is worth the noise.

Zach Hyman’s seven-year, $5.5-million contract has gone from widely questioned to arguably the best free-agent signing in Oilers history, with 175 goals and 310 points in 366 regular-season games. He can sign an extension in 2027, and the projection is a fair two-year deal at $7.5 million to $8 million annually or three years at roughly $6 million to $6.5 million, depending on how much production remains in the tank.

Jake Walman is being counted on for a bounce-back season after managing 20 points and a minus-17 rating in 53 games last year. He looked considerably better in Edmonton’s six-game playoff series, and with Darnell Nurse gone, a new-look blue line could give Walman a larger role—as long as he can stay healthy and keep that postseason form going.

Former Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram is retiring from hockey at 29 after 143 NHL games and plans to study psychology. Ingram, who previously spoke openly about OCD, depression and anxiety, used the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program and now wants to help others facing similar challenges. Meanwhile, Blues prospect Adam Jecho has entered the same program, while Mark Scheifele says Winnipeg still has enough talent to move forward despite Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request.

Owen Michaels is unlikely to make Edmonton’s opening-night roster, but the right-handed center gives the Oilers a rare blend of size, checking, penalty killing, faceoffs and some offensive ability. He finished his final 81 college games with 31 goals and 31 assists, and the view here is that he could get NHL games within the next 18 months—provided his skating holds up at the pro level.

Mike Babcock isn’t entering the season on the hot seat, but his job with the Oilers is hardly bulletproof. The source says Daryl Katz and Stan Bowman would likely only make a midseason change if Edmonton underachieves badly, nears playoff trouble, or Babcock has another off-ice incident like the one that ended his Columbus tenure.

The Kings lost Anze Kopitar to retirement and still look stuck between contention and a rebuild. Their season hinges on Quinton Byfield and Brandt Clarke taking major steps, while an aging roster and the departures of Kopitar and Philip Danault leave little margin for error. Los Angeles has enough structure and veteran savvy to chase a playoff spot, but the long-term outlook is getting bleaker by the shift.

Shakir Mukhamadullin arrives in Edmonton on a two-year deal worth $1.75 million per season after coming over from San Jose for Darnell Nurse. The 24-year-old left-shot defenceman can play both sides, but he’ll have to beat out Ty Emberson and Spencer Stastney for a regular job, with his versatility giving him a real shot. The catch: at 6-foot-4, he needs to bring more physicality after recording just 35 hits last season.

Ike Howard gets a real opening to crack Edmonton’s top six after Matt Savoie’s knee injury, and his scoring touch could make him hard to ignore. The catch is familiar: Howard has to clean up his off-puck discipline or Mike Babcock will send him for a spell. Josh Samanski, meanwhile, looks like a terrific zero-draft-pick find who already brings smart defensive play, skating and penalty-killing ability; improving at the faceoff dot is the ticket to more minutes.

Former Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram has retired from the NHL at 29 and is returning to school to study psychology, with the goal of helping others with their mental health. Ingram won the 2024 Bill Masterton Award after overcoming OCD, depression and other personal challenges, and last season started 30 games for Edmonton.

The 1989-90 Oilers top the list of Edmonton’s toughest teams, with warriors spread throughout the lineup rather than parked exclusively on the fourth line. The piece also highlights the bruising 1992-93 and 2005-06 clubs, while noting that today’s NHL has far fewer heavyweights and fighting is no longer the same part of the game.

Leon Draisaitl likes Mike Babcock’s direct approach, saying the Oilers need to rediscover the identity they never found last season. Jeff O’Neill doubts Edmonton is a true Cup contender, but the club did more than swap coaches: it retained Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, moved Darnell Nurse, added Ryan Shea, Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen, and rebuilt the coaching staff. Writing them off before this revamped group plays a meaningful game is a bit rich.

Sidney Crosby has endorsed Mike Babcock’s strengths as a coach, pointing to his line matching and organizational skills as reasons for optimism in Edmonton. Babcock brings a Stanley Cup and a 700-418-183 regular-season record, but the Oilers’ new bench boss will ultimately be judged by whether he can deliver the results this core needs.