Edmonton Oilers 2025-26 Season Preview: McDavid, Draisaitl & Championship Predictions
Imagine the Edmonson Oilers stepping onto the ice for the 202526 season with a formidable defense, an elite group of centers and a goalending duo that has faced its share of criticism. The wingers, however, are in a state of flux, making this season particularly intriguing. Let’s dive into what reasonable expectations might look like for the Oilers this year. For the past decade, I’ve been predicting the Oilers goals for and goals against, as well as individual scoring totals. Some years have been stellar, while others have been more challenging. Here’s a look back at what reasonable expectations have looked like for the Oilers through the early and middle of the decade. Year predicted actual with a cot triangle on the left. 2021 22 289 252 285 251 + 34 2022 23 300 243 + 57 325 256 + 69 2023 24 318 My estimates for goals against was spoton for three consecutive seasons before last year but the Oilers offense has being unpredictable. The 202526 season is particularly tough to forecast due to several newcomers on the wing, notably rookies Matt Seavoy and Ike Howard, and a returning set of goalenders who struggled in the playoffs. For the record, Edmonton’s goals against last year 235 were better than the league average, 247. For the fifth season in a row last year, I highlighted three young players, Stuart Skinner, Philip Broberg, and Dylan Holay, who had the potential to grow and improve the roster. Unfortunately, Broberg and Holay were lost to offer sheets by the St. Louis Blues, and Skinner regressed. This year, the potential offer sheet, Evan Buchard, has been signed, and the club has two more youngsters, Seavoi Howard, ready to face the challenge of a rookie NHL season. Let’s explore what reasonable looks like for a team in transition. Is skill forwards player GP goals points. Pete’s game Conor McDavid 72 42 118 1.64 64 Leon Dryidle 78 50 52 0.79 Matt Seavoy 76 13 49 Andrew Manga Painy 82 17 35 Isaac Howard 501 19 V pod Coulson 13 27 0.33 The coaching staff has a significant advantage with Conor McDavid and Leon Dryidle on the roster but as men are expecting to improve on last year’s point totals with dry citle projected to score 50 goals for the fifth time in his career. The top winger will be Zack Hyman with Ryan Eugen Hopkins also contributing from the wing on the power play. Vaseli Pod Coulson might slide down the depth chart as the season progresses. But don’t rule out the possibility of a breakout campaign if he can keep up with Dry Cital again in 202526. The two young wingers will play on the top two lines, but not for the entire season and not simultaneously. At least not until the second half of the season at the earliest. Savoir should spike in the first 20 games and could pass 40 points if he gets some time on the power play. Howard is likely to take time to adjust to pro hockey and could spend time in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. Andrew Manapani a veteran addition should improve his numbers from last season due to the quality of his linemates. The depth forwards player GP goals points points game 1 23 4 Ryan Nent Hopkins 76 22 54 Adam Henrik 1431.41 41 Trent Frederick 80 14 30 David Thomas 50 8 36 Curtis Lazar 40 4 11.28 Caspberry Kaepernin 60 7.27 27 Matias Yanmark 51 310 2 Noah Philp 32 1 5 Roby Javenti 9 022 Max Jones 5 1 1 1 0.2 two McDavid and Dryidle will center the top two lines and coach Chris Nolau may decide to deploy two more veterans in the middle on the third and fourth lines. Nent Hopkins probably moves to number three center due to a lack of veteran pivots on the roster. His power play prowess will keep him on the top unit and much of the offense seen here will come with the man advantage. Adam Henrik’s offense faded last year and he could fill the center role on the fourth line. There are some wingers listed in the depth category who could surprise. I’ve listed Trent Frederick as part of the depth group, but he will push Pod Coulson and Howard for time on the top two lines at left wing during the winter. The rest of the wingers should fall into place on the third and fourth lines. Although David Thomas and Casper Kaepernin are wild cards who could land in surprising places. One player who may be vulnerable is Matias Yanmark. He may lose his roster spot to Noah Philp during training camp. Silp is a right shooting center who would have great utility on the roster. The fact Yanmar is still ahead of him owes in part to Philip’s poor faceoff winning percentage last season. Defense. One of the reasons Edmonton’s offense was off a year ago was the leaguewide reduction in power plays. No Oilers player was affected more than Bousard and his offense could continue to manifest in lower numbers if the league calls the game in the same fashion as last season. Player GP goals points PTS game 1 F O Evan Buchard 8258 0.71 Mattius Eholm 7731 0.44 44 Jake Wman 638 28 0.44 Don El Nurse 8832 0.4 Bret Koulac 8251 19 0.23 Tai Emerson 521 11 0.21 21 Troy Stetcher 3817 0.18 Alec Regula 25 04 0.16 The Oilers’s defense will be a strength if everyone stays healthy. Bashard will lead the way offensively while also delivering fabulous scoring numbers at five on five. If he can reduce the number of mistakes with the puck, Bashard will get more credit for his splendid work. Single events in a game can have enormous impact while also being single events. Matias Ekholm, Jake Wman, and Darnell Nurse round out the top four. This is a veteran crew with some offensive flare from each player. And it’s possible the Oilers ice four defensemen who exceed 30 points this season. If the NHL gets back to calling the game as it did a couple of years ago, that goal total could spike in a big way. Goalending. We reach the pivotal pressure point for this edition of the Oilers. No major roster moves have been made in goal. So Stuart Skinner and Kelvin Pickicket are the projected net minders for the coming season. The chances of Edmonton deploying these two men exclusively all season including the playoffs should be considered a long shot. Player GP GAA save percentage Oscar rate this 2.7 0.901
Edmonton Oilers 2025-26 season analysis and predictions! Complete breakdown of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl projections, rookie prospects Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard, defensive improvements with Evan Bouchard, and goaltending concerns with Stuart Skinner.
In this comprehensive Oilers season preview, we dive deep into:
🏒 McDavid’s projected 118 points and Draisaitl’s 50-goal chase
⭐ Top prospects Matt Savoie and Isaac Howard making their NHL debuts
🛡️ Defensive corps led by Bouchard, Ekholm, and new addition Jake Walman
聾 Goaltending situation with Skinner and Pickard under pressure
📊 Goals for/against projections: 282-236 (+46 differential)
🏆 Stanley Cup championship potential and roster analysis
Detailed player-by-player projections including:
– Skill forwards: McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Savoie, Mangiapane
– Depth forwards: Nugent-Hopkins, Henrique, Frederic
– Defense pairings and point projections
– Goaltending split and save percentage expectations
Will the Oilers finally capture their first Stanley Cup since 1990? Can McDavid and Draisaitl lead another deep playoff run? How will rookies Savoie and Howard impact the lineup?
Subscribe for more NHL analysis, Edmonton Oilers content, and hockey predictions throughout the 2025-26 season!