For all the frustration packed into the last few days, the Edmonton Oilers still walked away from October’s toughest stretch with a winning record on the week.
That’s the weird part about the NHL: a bad-looking finish doesn’t always mean a bad week. Edmonton was blasted on primetime TV to close things out, then took another hit when its best defensive defenseman, Mattias Ekholm, went out with a concussion on Thursday night. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Oilers’ new young goaltender, Devon Levi, landed on injured reserve after helping battle to an overtime win against the Stanley Cup champions.
Not exactly the kind of stretch that leaves anyone feeling great. But in context, it still counts as a positive.
Injuries are baked into the sport, especially this early in the year. The games are fast, the contact is constant, and the list of unavailable players never stays empty for long.
Edmonton has already had to deal with some of that reality, but it has also started to get pieces back. Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins returned, and both made an immediate impact.
Ekholm’s absence doesn’t appear to be long term, and the Oilers have enough firepower to survive some defensive rough patches. They are built to win high-scoring games more often than not, even when the back end gets a little messy.
The loss to Toronto was ugly in its own familiar way. The Leafs always bring their own baggage, from the traveling fans in the building to the overblown reaction that follows the next day.
And yes, Auston Matthews’ moustache remains an affront. Edmonton also seems willing to play the kind of open, back-and-forth game Toronto wants.
That’s not ideal, but the Leafs are not the team standing between the Oilers and a Stanley Cup.
The bigger picture is what matters. Edmonton opened the week by avenging a loss to the Utah Mammoth, then scraped out a win over the Minnesota Wild - something that never happened in 2025-26 - and finished by clawing back against the Carolina Hurricanes until it got the result.
A 0-4 week would have been easy to imagine. Instead, the Oilers went 3-1 and gave themselves some cushion, even if the final note was a rough one.
In Other News...
Oilers Suddenly Face A Goaltending Question They Cant Ignore
The Oilers are having to manage the kind of goaltending shuffle that can quietly change a stretch of the schedule. Devon Levi has gone on injured reserve, forcing Edmonton to bring back Matt Tomkins on emergency depth as it tries to keep the crease stable while other clubs around the league work through their own injury issues, from Taylor Halls expected return in Carolina to Rasmus Ristolainens absence in Philadelphia.
What makes the move more awkward is that Levis injury has not been disclosed, and the short-term outlook only adds to the uncertainty. Edmonton now has to navigate at least the next week without a clear timeline for one of its goalies, a reminder that depth charts can get tested fast in the NHL, especially when the margins between a normal week and a problem are so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Hot Start Is Hiding A Lineup Concern Fans Know Too Well
The Oilers have found enough early success to cushion a familiar kind of roster debate, but the start has also revived a question Edmonton keeps circling back to: whether the club is leaning too heavily on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together. On the surface, the opening has been encouraging, and theres no reason for panic this early, yet the bigger picture still points to how much the lineup depends on those two driving the offense when theyre on the ice.
Splitting them would be a way to spread the wealth and make the group deeper from top to bottom, which is exactly the kind of adjustment that tends to matter when the schedule tightens and opponents start keying on one pairing. The concern in Edmonton is less about the stars themselves than what happens when theyre not setting the tone, and that is where the conversation around the rest of the forward group gets a lot less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Sent Trent Frederic A Message He Cant Ignore
Trent Frederic found himself on the outside looking in against the Carolina Hurricanes after Mike Babcock chose to send a message to Edmontons bottom six. The Oilers coach made it clear the standard for those depth forwards goes beyond simply being around the puck, with a heavier emphasis on work rate, winning battles and creating more pressure in the offensive zone.
Babcock also acknowledged Frederics willingness to mix it up, but said the physical side alone is not enough to secure a regular spot. Frederic appeared to take the decision in stride, saying he understood the move and was focused on improving his game and earning his way back into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]