The Edmonton Oilers are a third of the way through the NHL season, and the story so far? It’s been a frustratingly familiar one. The team’s top-heavy structure is showing its cracks again, and the numbers paint a picture Oil Country knows all too well: when Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl aren’t on the ice, the offense dries up - fast.
Let’s start with what’s working, because there is something to build from. In 725 even-strength minutes with either McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice, the Oilers have scored 37 goals and allowed 34.
That’s not exactly dominant, but it’s at least competitive. Head coach Kris Knoblauch clearly recognizes that, leaning heavily on his two superstars to keep the team afloat.
But here’s the problem - that’s not a long-term formula for success. It’s survival mode, not championship hockey.
The deeper issue is what happens when neither McDavid nor Draisaitl is out there. That’s where things go off a cliff.
In over 10 full games’ worth of even-strength play without either of them, the Oilers have scored just 13 goals. That’s barely 1.3 goals per game.
In today’s NHL, that’s nowhere near enough to stay in the fight, let alone win consistently.
And it’s not just the scoring that’s an issue. Defensively, the team has been shaky across the board.
Whether McDavid and Draisaitl are on the ice or not, the goals against are coming at a similar clip. That tells us the team’s defensive structure - or lack thereof - isn’t giving them a chance to control games.
And when the offense disappears without the stars, there’s no margin for error.
The Oilers are in a dark place right now. When the top line isn’t on, the lights are out - literally and figuratively.
No McDavid, no Draisaitl? No sunlight.
Few goal lights.
So what’s the fix?
Well, there might be one sitting right down the road in Bakersfield. Edmonton’s AHL affiliate is loaded with young scoring talent, and if the current NHL roster isn’t getting it done - especially with Jack Roslovic sidelined - it might be time to shake things up. Roslovic has been one of the few forwards capable of driving offense away from the top two, and without him, the need for secondary scoring becomes even more urgent.
Enter Quinn Hutson. The 23-year-old winger has been lighting it up in the AHL, putting up 19 points in 18 games.
He’s not the biggest or most physical player, but he’s got high-end puck skills and a smart two-way game. He’s the kind of player who could step into a Top-6 role and bring some much-needed creativity and finish to a lineup that’s starving for it.
This isn’t about throwing a prospect into the fire just for the sake of change. It’s about recognizing that the current formula isn’t working - and hasn’t been for a while - and giving someone with real upside a chance to help. If the Oilers are serious about salvaging this season, they can’t keep doing the same thing and hoping for different results.
McDavid and Draisaitl can only carry this team so far. If Edmonton wants to climb out of this hole, they need more players who can push the pace, generate offense, and give the team a fighting chance when the stars are catching their breath. The solution might not be a blockbuster trade or a coaching overhaul - it might just be a call-up away.