One of the best stories in Edmonton Oilers history is the Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final back in the 2005–06 season. A team that had a foundation build around hard work and determination was supplemented by the additions of some high end talent that pushed them over the top when it was needed most.

The team barely made the playoffs, finishing as the eighth seed and three points ahead of the ninth place Vancouver Canucks. 2005–06 was a perfect storm of players having career years at the same time. Ales Hemsky led the team with a team (and career) high of 77 points. Shawn Horcoff set career highs in all offensive categories, including 73 points—a number he would never get close to again. Same goes for Jarrett Stoll, Raffi Torres, and Fernando Pisani (who also had an unforgettable playoff run). Combine these career years with the addition of high profile players like Chris Pronger, Dwayne Roloson, Sergei Samsonov, and Michael Peca at varying points of the season, and you have a perfect situation for the unexpected Cup Final run.

This Oilers team is remembered fondly. They were fun to watch, battled hard, and had about as complete a lineup with some of the biggest names the franchise had seen in the post-Wayne Gretzky and pre-Connor McDavid eras. Players like Hemsky and Roloson are remembered extremely fondly by the fanbase. And when one takes a look at the current roster, we can even wish that some of these players were available to play today to fill some of the current Oilers roster’s holes.

To explore that idea more, we took to X this week to ask fans which 2005–06 roster player they would most like to see on today’s team.

Want to take part in Sunday Census polls? We send them out every week on our Twitter at @oilrigEDM. Follow along or send in ideas for the next poll!

Which player from the 2005-06 #Oilers team would you most want to see on today’s roster?

— The Oil Rig (@oilrigEDM) August 15, 2025

Hemmer with McDrai? Yes, please

Hemsky is a major case of a player caught in the wrong era. Could you imagine his playstyle in today’s NHL? He would be a regular 100-point player as one of the best puck handlers in the entire league. Not to mention his grit, battle, and determination to go along with all the skill.

Needless to say, Hemsky would be a fantastic addition to today’s Oilers team, a hypothetical situation that 21.5% of voters agrees with, finishing second in this week’s poll.

Where would he fit in the lineup? Anywhere in the top-six. Considering Hemsky was a right winger, and Zach Hyman usually plays that role with Connor McDavid, that leaves a perfect opening with Leon Draisaitl. Wouldn’t these two be amazing fits with each other? Hemsky as the puck carrier drawing attention away from Draisaitl, something he was incredibly good at, and then setting up Leon for an endless stream of goals?

Or, late in games when down a goal, loading up a top line with McDavid, Draisaitl, and Hemsky with Evan Bouchard on the point. Endless skill and firepower on that line. One can only dream.

Roli the goalie can fix this team

Much has been made about the goaltending struggles and the attempts (or lackthereof) of trying to fix them. Just like he did in 2006 when he was acquired, Dwayne Roloson could fix this team’s goaltending problems and help push today’s Oilers team over the top. As long as no one falls on his leg again, that is.

Adding Roloson is the fan favourite choice in this week’s poll, with a majority of fans wanting a return of one of the best goalies this team has had in the 21st century.

Roloson’s reliable presence in net would help take the pressure off of Stuart Skinner and give the Oilers a legitimate 1A/1B situation to run with. His aggressive playstyle and tendency to try and keep the play alive would work well with how this team’s offence works, and with a good puck carrying defender like Darnell Nurse as well as an option. Anyone remember Roloson dropping the puck from his glove and batting it down the ice? That’s the way to start the breakout with this team and catch McDavid in stride down the ice.

And wouldn’t it be nice to not have to have nightly conversations about this team’s goaltending?

Captain Canada returns

The heart and soul of the Edmonton Oilers in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s was Ryan Smyth. He was a fan favourite, regular contributor, and leader in the locker room and the community. His grit and determination motivated everybody and made sure that the compete level stayed high in the lineup from top to bottom.

Wouldn’t that sound nice on today’s team? Someone who can help the team level out during the highs and lows of a season. Another voice to provide insight and guide this team through games. And better yet, he was a strong offensive contributor, regularly hitting 20 goals and 60 points throughout his career.

Smyth was a bit farther down the list on this week’s poll, with 13.5% of voters wanting to see him in this team’s lineup.

Looking at the roster, where would Smyth fit? Well, McDavid has Hyman on his wing to be a backboard and net front presence. So, why not on Draisaitl’s left wing to give Draisaitl someone to bounce pucks in off of? Draisaitl knows how to get the puck to the net and is possibly the best playmaker in the league, he would find a way to get the puck through to Smyth on a regular basis.

Bringing in another captain

Lastly in this week’s poll is the captain of that 2005–06 Oilers team, Jason Smith. Who finished last in this week’s poll with 7.5% of the vote. And that’s likely a lower total from a place of positional need rather than desire for the player, since Smith was a battler and an incredibly reliable defender.

The Edmonton Oilers headed into the 2025–26 season is regularly at the top of lists of teams with the best defensive group in the NHL. So they don’t really need to change a whole lot to be good. But Smith’s playstyle, as a gritty defensive defender, is essentially the one thing that this team is missing defensively. And, could potentially have finally given the Oilers someone who could play well with Nurse, being the defensive presence to let Nurse’s transition play and puck carrying shine.

Anyone else from that 2005–06 team that you’d want to see on this team? Drop a comment down below!

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