We’re right in the middle of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the Edmonton Oilers have already played three eventful games. Two tough losses on the road and one dramatic comeback win against the Los Angeles Kings have given the Oilers a puncher’s chance to tie their first-round series at two games apiece. There’s been a lot of storylines through the first three games, but one of the biggest has certainly been about the Oilers roster. This year’s roster is very different from the one that went to the Stanley Cup Final a year ago, and many have doubted and continue to doubt whether or not the Oilers roster as constructed is good enough to get that close again. Let’s explore those claims and analyze the collection of players the Oilers have to determine whether or not Edmonton has the “right mix,” so to speak. High-end talent is tops The old saying goes that “your best players need to be your best players.” The most critical aspect of any team’s success is the skill level of your top end players, and Edmonton has that in spades. Connor McDavid is the best player in hockey. Leon Draisaitl is right behind him. Evan Bouchard holds the all-time record for assists in a single postseason by a defenceman, despite his turnovers driving everyone (myself included) crazy. When it comes to top end players, the Oilers have an embarassment of riches. Even players like Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who may not be quite to the level of a McDavid or Draisaitl, are still capable of putting up big performances Some teams struggle for years to get this level of high-end talent. Edmonton is fortunate enough to possess players at multiple positions that are at the absolute highest levels of skill. These kinds of elite players would elevate any lineup, and the Oilers are no exception. They often go as far as these players will take them, and although the entire team isn’t necessarily dependent on them, they are certainly the engine that makes the team go. These top players are crucial to win in today’s NHL, and Edmonton are lucky to have a few of the best players alive on their roster. Depth leaves something to be desired Depth is another crucial aspect to any successful team. Hockey is a team sport, and although your most skilled players are certainly impactful, they can’t play every shift. You need complimentary players to fill out other roles in the lineup. The Oilers currently seem to be a little lacking in this department. The offseason decision to replace younger players like Dylan Holloway and Warren Foegele with older, more veteran forwards like Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson has largely been a failure. Skinner and Arvidsson have both had their moments, but their overall production through the season has left something to be desired. The speed of a Holloway or Foegele would be especially welcome on the current Oilers roster, which at times appears to be a step behind. The Oilers are at their best when they are able to push the pace of play without their big guns on the ice. This season at times it has felt like they need their top players on the ice to even stand a chance. It is true that some of the Oilers depth has dealt with injuries this season —Evander Kane is just returning from an eight-month absence due to injury, and deadline acquisition Trent Frederic is currently playing through an high-ankle sprain, to varying degrees of success. If both of these players were fully healthy and ramped up, perhaps it would make a big enough difference for the depth to be a strength, but at the current moment it appears the Oilers lack something in that department. Goaltending is a major mark The ballad of 2025 Oilers goaltending is a long and often-repeated one. Neither Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard has been able to replicate their success from last season, nor has one laid a definitive claim to the starting job. At times, poor play from one or both of these goalies has cost the Oilers games, and it remains to be seen in this postseason whether or not the lack of consistent goaltending will come back to haunt Edmonton. Of any area of the team, goaltending is certainly the one that had generated the most discussion, and with good reason. It is the most obvious flaw of the team. The discussion on whether or not Edmonton should have upgraded on this weakness has been repeated ad-nauseam, so I won’t get into it here. However, it would be ignorant to say that goaltending is not the most glaring weakness of the current Oilers roster. Perhaps a more permanent or solid solution comes in the offseason. Regardless of postseason result, it is clear that Edmonton will have to make some kind of move to address this situation—not out of want but out of need. Goaltending is the most important position in hockey, and if the Oilers wish to succeed, they will need to make changes in the crease. The team requires more youth The Oilers are the NHL’s second-oldest team per Left Wing Lock at 30.6 years of age on average. This is usually not conducive to success. Today’s NHL requires any serious contender to have a proper mix of skill, speed, and youth. This average age may be inflated due to the outliers of Corey Perry (39) and Derek Ryan (38), but it is still clear that Edmonton is a team on the older side. You need younger players in the lineup to push the older ones and develop chemistry. This year’s Oilers have largely shied away from incorporating younger players in the lineup, although it may be good for them to do so. The Oilers have been ravaged by injuries this season. McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Kane, Frederic, Stuart Skinner, and Mattias Ekholm have all found themselves on the shelf for varying amounts of time. Perhaps the second-oldest roster in the NHL is simply injury prone due to age. If the Oilers did wish to start incorporating youth into their lineup, two names that will be at the top of the list are Noah Philp and Matthew Savoie. Philp played fifteen games with Edmonton this season, primarily as the fourth-line centre. Although he only produced two assists in those games, Philp’s speed and defensive instincts proved to be NHL-level, and if the Oilers are looking to ice their best lineup, he’s likely in it. Savoie only played four games this season for Edmonton, with only one assist. However, he too looked capable of skating and keeping up with the NHL game, and appeared to be developing some chemistry with Leon Draisaitl. This is possibly more of a next season issue, especially with the possible debuts of prospects Maxim Beryozkin and Sam O’Reilly. However, if the Oilers are looking to continue to compete, they will need to inject more youth into their lineup, through prospects, free agency, or otherwise. Possible playoff hope Although the first three games against Los Angeles have been eventful to say the least, there is a slight glimmer of hope for the Oilers when it comes to their roster. The longer they are able to stay alive in the playoffs, the more healthy their roster will become. Kane and Frederic will continue to heal their injuries, and anyone playing with something nagging will perhaps have the opportunity to rest. Mattias Ekholm will miss the entire first round, but a potential second- or third-round return would be a massive boost to the team’s chances. Overall verdict on the roster As it stands, it appears the Oilers have an interesting mix of players. They possess incredible high end skill, but lack consistency in their depth and goaltending, and don’t have enough youth in the lineup. This would usually be a death blow to any team, but the Oilers have the unique opportunity to perhaps make this roster work in this year’s playoffs. However, if the Oilers truly wish to continue contending for next season and beyond, they will likely have to re-tool some aspects of their roster, overhauling their goaltending ensuring youth and speed play more prominent roles in their team makeup.