The Edmonton Oilers are navigating life without Leon Draisaitl - and so far, they’re doing more than just staying afloat. Their 6-0 dismantling of the Vancouver Canucks wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Even without one of the most dominant two-way players in the game, the Oilers flexed their depth, dictated the pace, and reminded everyone that there’s more to this team than just Draisaitl and McDavid.
Now, let’s be clear: the Canucks aren’t exactly a measuring stick right now. They’re in the middle of a rebuild and playing like it.
But a shutout is a shutout, and a six-goal outburst is nothing to shrug off - especially when it comes with a balanced attack and a full-team effort. That win showed the Oilers can still generate offense, play structured hockey, and get contributions from up and down the lineup.
But tonight? Tonight is the real test.
The St. Louis Blues, sitting sixth in the Central Division, may not be world-beaters, but they’re a legitimate NHL team.
They’ve got structure, experience, and enough talent to punish mistakes. They’re not just going through the motions - they’re trying to win.
And that’s exactly the kind of opponent that will reveal whether Edmonton’s recent form is sustainable or just a flash in the pan.
So far, the early returns are promising.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has stepped into the second-line center role and is handling it with the poise you’d expect from a veteran who’s seen it all. He’s not going to replicate Draisaitl’s production - few in the league can - but he’s proving he can carry the load in the interim. He’s responsible, he’s creative, and he’s keeping the engine running in the middle six.
The bigger question is who lines up next to him. Trent Frederic has been bumped up to the second line, and while the effort is there, the fit isn’t perfect.
Frederic was brought in to add energy and grit to the bottom six, not to play a top-six role. Asking him to fill that gap long-term?
That’s where things start to get a little shaky. But for now, the Oilers are making it work.
And that’s the key takeaway: they’re managing.
Is this a long-term solution? Probably not.
You don’t just replace a player like Draisaitl - a guy who can tilt the ice every time he hops over the boards. But for a short stretch, Edmonton is showing they’ve got enough structure, enough depth, and enough resilience to keep things steady.
That win over Vancouver was more than just two points. It was a confidence booster.
It showed the Oilers can win without leaning entirely on their two superstars. It showed that players further down the lineup are ready to step up when called upon.
And it showed that this team might be a little deeper than people give them credit for.
Tonight’s matchup with the Blues is going to be telling. St.
Louis won’t go quietly. They’ll test Edmonton’s defensive structure, pressure their breakout, and force them to earn every opportunity.
If the Oilers can come out of this one with another convincing win, the narrative around their depth - and their ability to survive without Draisaitl - might shift in a big way.
The good news? This won’t be a long-term absence. Draisaitl’s personal leave isn’t expected to last much longer, and when he returns, the Oilers will once again have that lethal one-two punch down the middle that makes them such a matchup nightmare.
But until then, they’re holding their own. They’re not just treading water - they’re competing, winning, and showing they can handle adversity. That’s the mark of a team with real playoff aspirations.
No one’s pretending the Oilers are better without Draisaitl. But in the short term?
They’re proving they can get the job done without him. And when he’s back?
This team’s ceiling only gets higher.