There’s enough sample in the postseason for Edmonton Oilers fans to drill down on what’s working, and on specific players who are successfully filling roles. It’s also easy to credibly identify underperformers.

As the current edition of the team houses six unrestricted free agents, and a couple of important restricted free agents, it’s never too soon to discuss what may come this summer.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the Oilers this spring. Who’s making the grade? Who’s not delivering, and could it mean change this summer?

Goaltenders
PlayerMinsSave Pct

335

0.914

295

0.9

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

There’s much here to ponder.

Calvin Pickard, a career backup (when not playing in the minors) has more minutes in net than Edmonton’s No. 1 goaltender (Stuart Skinner). The gap could’ve been larger, but Pickard’s injury guaranteed recent starts for Skinner.

The possible outcomes of a Skinner game (shutouts to end the series against the Vegas Golden Knights; allowing four goals against in the third period versus the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night) are breathtaking. Although his five-on-five save percentage in Game 1 (.909) was solid, Edmonton needs better overall results from its top goalie option.

The Oilers should be looking for an upgrade in the summer, even if the price is too dear and the current tandem returns in the fall. It’s reasonable to conclude management has some doubt about the name of the current Edmonton goalie (if any) who will return for 2025-26. General manager Stan Bowman owes it to his team, and to the fans, to pursue improvement at the position.

One of the key areas of worry in regard to goaltending surrounds the salary cap. Skinner is signed for $2.6 million next season, Pickard for $1 million and the club is still paying for the Jack Campbell buyout. Another mistake in net could be catastrophic to the team’s Stanley Cup hopes.

PuckPedia has the Oilers with over $9 million in cap room, but Evan Bouchard’s next contract will take all of it and likely more to get done. When contemplating the acquisition of a goalie like Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, cap worries and acquiring the right goalie are vital. Swayman’s cap hit is $8.25 million on a deal that extends to the summer of 2032.

Skinner could make Bowman’s summer easier with a strong performance against Dallas (and, potentially, in the final).

Defence

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

This is the deepest defensive group the Oilers have deployed in at least 15 years. The five names here are two-way types who can skate and move the puck. Bowman doesn’t have a shutdown blueliner or an enforcer on defence, as the organization is emphasizing getting the puck out of the zone. It’s an offensive ploy designed to allow the team to play less actual defence. It’s working.

The expected goals are top drawer across the five names, although the time-on-ice share doesn’t run in lockstep with what is being delivered. Based on expected goals, fans should be seeing more of Jake Walman and less of Darnell Nurse. There has been reporting that Walman isn’t completely healthy; that would explain the deployment on the left side of the defence.

Bowman may have to consider letting John Klingberg walk in free agency. That would be a painful development based on the veteran’s play during the postseason. As late as March, Klingberg’s play called into question his future as an NHL top-four defenceman, but his impressive results this spring put all of those questions to rest.

Bowman probably attempts to sign Klingberg before the free-agent window opens this summer, but the price is going up by the game.

Forwards

All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick

The Oilers’ forward depth chart in this decade is a panacea for all hockey ills. At the top, the best 1-2 punch in the game, with tremendous support from Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and (when healthy) Evander Kane.

The middle-six group (second and third lines) is veteran, capable and (this spring) a little loose in performance level. Viktor Arvidsson, Adam Henrique and Jeff Skinner (not listed here because he hasn’t played enough games in the playoffs to qualify for the conversation) have all had varying degrees of struggle.

Even a rock-solid two-way winger like Connor Brown has (at times) been off, although the loss of form may be due to injury or illness. Brown was a game-time decision for the opener against Dallas.

Meanwhile, Corey Perry continues to astound with his level of play at age 40. Based on performance, it’s easy to slide Perry ahead of Arvidsson on the right-wing depth chart, in spite of the fact that Perry has no contract for next year and Arvidsson is one of a multitude who possess a no-movement contract with the team.

The top five names on this list are running expected goal shares of over 60 percent in this year’s playoffs. It’s an electric offence.

Forwards whose performance may cause Bowman to rethink the future starts with Kane. Long thought by many fans to be on the way out of Edmonton over the summer, the big man has reminded all observers what he can bring to the proceedings. Perry fits in the same category.

Disappointments include several forwards signed during the period the club was between general managers. Arvidsson, Skinner and Henrique (who was re-signed to a deal) qualify, and Bowman may spend some of this summer trying to offload one of those deals. The no-movement contracts (Edmonton has nine full or modified no-movement deals) will be an albatross for change in the offseason.

Bottom line

The evidence is piling up across the roster. Coach Kris Knoblauch and his staff have seen elevated performances from Pickard, Walman, Klingberg, Kane and Perry. The club has also seen disappointing numbers from both Skinners, Arvidsson and Henrique.

Nothing is certain, and there’s plenty of track for all players to impress the organization. It goes without saying that a Stanley Cup parade would change the outlook for all involved.

As it stands now, several current Oilers may be playing their final games with the organization. Bowman is a new general manager, this will be his first full summer, and a spring without a championship should be met with swift action.

Much hangs in the balance.

(Photo of John Klingberg and Evander Kane: Harry How / Getty Images)