The Edmonton Oilers have spent the opening stretch looking like a team that knows exactly how to win while it figures things out.
At 5-0-1, they’ve put together their best start since the mid-80s, and even after a couple of uneasy defensive outings, the results have kept rolling. The wins have come under Mike Babcock with a shutdown style that hasn’t always been pretty, but has been effective. Edmonton has also been doing it without several key players, and help is on the way: Zach Hyman’s return is imminent, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins should be back soon.
Connor McDavid has been all-world and leading by example, and he’s had plenty of support. Evan Bouchard, Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, Kasperi Kapanen, Mattias Ekholm, Ryan Shea, Owen Michaels, Alex Formenton, and Mathieu Joseph have all been mentioned as players who have chipped in early.
The next run of games is a different test entirely. After cruising through California with a far quieter spotlight, the Oilers are heading into a stretch where the scrutiny comes back hard: back-to-back games against Utah, then road trips to Minnesota and Carolina, and a Saturday night date with Toronto.
These are hockey markets, and there’ll be more reporters, more attention, and more questions. Utah, Minnesota, and Carolina are all described as solid teams, and the Leafs bring the kind of matchup that usually delivers entertainment.
First up is Utah, and the Mammoth already look dangerous. Edmonton hosts them Thursday before the rematch in Utah on Saturday night, and there’s a chance Hyman returns in one of those games. The Oilers will need to be sharp to win one or both, and the note here is simple: don’t try to turn it into firewagon hockey.
Utah is off to a 5-2 start and sits atop the Central Division. They were blown out by the Bruins, then answered with wins over the Sabres and Leafs.
Their top nine has all been producing, and Karel Vejmelka has been strong in goal at 4-1 with a 2.46 GAA and an .895 save percentage. Former Oiler Kailer Yamamoto was moved onto the third line for the last two games and picked up three points.
The injury list is short, with Michael Carcone and Maveric Lamoureux the only names mentioned.
Minnesota presents a different kind of problem. The Wild have long given Edmonton trouble, particularly in Minnesota, and they’ve built a reputation on defense. Now they can score too, which makes this one feel like a matchup between two patient teams rather than the run-and-gun Oilers of old.
The Wild are 4-2-1, though they did drop their last game to Winnipeg. Kaprizov has been excellent, and several forwards have already banked a couple of goals: Matt Boldy, Blake Coleman, Maxim Sabanov, and Danila Yurov.
The back end also joins the attack, with Quinn Hughes and Jared Spurgeon listed as dangerous up ice, so Edmonton’s forwards will have to stay alert. Defensively, Minnesota has had some issues of its own, with Ryan Hartman sitting at minus-7.
Jesper Wallstedt has been excellent in net, going 4-1 with a 1.82 GAA and a .933 save percentage. Former Oiler Calvin Pickard, though, was hammered for five goals in his only start against Winnipeg. Minnesota’s injury list is significant, with Brock Faber, the Foligno brothers, Nico Sturm, and Filip Gustavsson all out.
Then comes Carolina, and that’s the heavyweight on the slate. After a slow start, the Hurricanes have found their stride again, and the Oilers are about to find out where they stand against one of the league’s power teams.
Carolina is the defending Stanley Cup champion and has scored more goals than any team in the league. Rod Brind’Amour has them doing what they do best: relentless checking, deep lines, and no easy shifts for opponents.
They’re 6-1-1, and their only regulation loss came against Florida in the home opener. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jackson Blake are driving the offense, while Pyotr Kochetkov has been excellent in goal at 4-0 with a 1.73 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
The Hurricanes’ injured group includes Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, and Taylor Hall, and Alexander Nikishin is out because of a contract dispute.
The weekend finishes with Toronto, and that one figures to pull in a massive audience once everyone sorts out where it’s being streamed. It’s a Saturday night meeting in the center of the universe, and the Oilers have several players with Metro Toronto roots, including McDavid, Bouchard, Hyman, and Walman. Games like these tend to bring drama, and Trent Frederic would not be a surprise if he makes his presence felt.
The Maple Leafs are 3-3-1 and have already had a swingy start. They beat the Avalanche in Denver, then lost to Utah, and have been alternating wins and losses. They’ve still got plenty of skill, even if the defense remains a question.
Austin Matthews and William Nylander have been exceptional, and Toronto has more offense behind them with John Tavares, Kirill Marchenko, Jack Roslovic, Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna. McKenna, the number one overall pick, has already shown flashes of what he can do, and his name will draw plenty of attention.
In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky is 1-2-1 with a 2.97 GAA and a .907 save percentage, while Anthony Stolarz is 2-1 with a 3.32 GAA and an 8.75 save percentage. Toronto’s injured group includes Chris Tanev, Max Domi, Dakota Joshua, and newly acquired goaltender Elvis Merzlikins.
It has been a strong start for Edmonton. The real test begins now.
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The catch is that the path to even making the idea workable runs through another club and another need entirely, with Tristan Jarry and the Rangers entering the picture because of their unsettled goaltending situation. Washington would also have to be open to considering Wilson only if its season went sideways, and even then the framework described is still just speculation, with draft picks and prospects part of the conversation but no confirmed trade talks to hang it on yet. [Read more 🡒]
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Oilers Face An Early Test With One Lineup Choice Looming
The Oilers return to Rogers Place with Utah on the schedule, and the attention is not just on the opponent but on how Edmonton chooses to line up around it. The game brings another chance to sort through the numbers, the recent form, and the possible line combinations that could shape the night, especially with matchups likely to matter early and often.
Edmonton has spent plenty of time weighing how best to deploy its forwards, and this one feels like an early test of how the coaching staff wants to balance skill, pace, and matchup responsibility. Even the broader conversation around the team has been lively, with a recent sports talk show breaking down a range of topics, but for the Oilers the immediate focus is simpler: which lineup choice they make before puck drop, and what it says about how they want to attack Utah. [Read more 🡒]