Edmonton Oilers 2025/26 Season Preview: Can McDavid Finally Finish the Job?

The Cup window is wide open, but the pressure has never been higher.

A Quick Look at the Oilers’ Last Season

Record: 48–29–5 (101 points)
Result: Lost in Stanley Cup Final (vs. Florida)
2025/26 Stanley Cup Odds: +800 at Sports Interaction
Projected Points: 103.1

Edmonton’s Offseason Recap

The story of the Oilers’ summer centred on Connor McDavid’s contract extension and a roster that looks built for one more push. After back-to-back Cup Final losses, Edmonton doubled down rather than tear down.

General manager Stan Bowman used limited cap space to add Andrew Mangiapane, Trent Frederic, and Jake Walman, while trading Evander Kane to Vancouver. The club also acquired Isaac Howard, last year’s Hobey Baker winner, and promoted Matt Savoie for a full-time NHL role. Both will help balance cost and depth.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch returns for a third season after steering Edmonton through two deep playoff runs.

2025/26 Edmonton Team Outlook

Offence: Still the Most Dangerous Duo in Hockey

Edmonton’s strength remains obvious. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl headline a power play that continues to terrify the league. McDavid followed a “quiet” 122-point season with another playoff tear, while Draisaitl led the league with 52 goals and played his best two-way hockey yet.

Supporting them are Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and newcomer Mangiapane, giving Edmonton one of the deepest top-six units in the league. If rookies Savoie and Howard can handle middle-six minutes, the Oilers could finally have reliable secondary scoring.

Defence: Deeper and More Mobile

Adding Jake Walman to a core of Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse gives Edmonton legitimate top-four strength. Bouchard continues to rise among elite puck-moving defencemen, while Ekholm’s veteran stability remains critical.

Behind them, Brett Kulak and Ty Emberson offer steady depth. Edmonton’s blue line ranked top five in expected goals against last season, and the improved puck movement should keep that trend going.

Goaltending: The Question That Won’t Go Away

Stuart Skinner returns as the starter after a streaky year. His .906 save percentage and two mid-series pulls in the Final show the volatility that still haunts this roster. Calvin Pickard remains the backup, with Connor Ingram waiting in Bakersfield if needed.

The truth: Edmonton will only go as far as its goaltending allows.

Edmonton’s X-Factors

Connor McDavid: Still the best player in the world. His extension removed the biggest distraction.
Stuart Skinner: Needs consistency. Edmonton cannot afford another cold stretch in April.
Evan Bouchard: Drives the power play and could push for Norris consideration with Ekholm healthy.
Matt Savoie: The 21-year-old is expected to bring speed and secondary scoring in a bottom-six role.
Jake Walman: A quiet addition who could solidify the second pair and improve breakout play.

Edmonton Oilers 2025/26 Betting Outlook

Sports Interaction’s NHL Futures board lists Edmonton at:

+800 to win the Stanley Cup

+425 to win the Western Conference

Connor McDavid +200 to win the Hart Trophy

The Oilers enter the season as clear Stanley Cup favourites and the most heavily bet Canadian team.

Best Bet: Connor McDavid to Win the Hart (+200)
Voter fatigue is real, but McDavid remains unmatched in production and impact. If Edmonton wins the West again, he’s the default pick.

Value Bet: Edmonton to Win the West (+425)
Given back-to-back Cup Final appearances and minimal roster turnover, this is the cleaner bet than the shorter +800 Cup line.

So, What’s the Final Verdict on These Oilers?

The pieces are there: the best player alive, an elite top-four defence, and a potent power play. The question is whether the goaltending can hold.

Prediction: 108 points, 1st in the Pacific Division, Cup Final appearance
Bottom Line: The window is open, but the pressure is immense. This season is about closing the deal.