The Edmonton Oilers have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams since late November, and head coach Kris Knoblauch deserves credit for steering the ship in the right direction. But in Edmonton, “pretty good” isn’t the goal - the bar is set at Stanley Cup contention. And while the top-end talent is undeniable, there’s a growing conversation around whether the Oilers are fully utilizing the depth of their roster - particularly in the bottom six.
Let’s be clear: to win it all, you need more than just elite stars. You need four lines that can roll, three defensive pairings that can hold their own, and goaltending that doesn’t flinch under pressure. Add in a penalty kill that doesn’t leak and a power play that can tilt the ice, and now you’re talking about a legitimate Cup threat.
Right now, the Oilers are close - but not quite there. The top two lines are doing the heavy lifting, but the bottom six forwards?
That’s where the questions are starting to pile up. And the heat is turning toward Knoblauch, not for how he’s coaching the stars, but for how he’s managing the minutes of the players further down the lineup.
It came to a head recently when promising center Josh Samanski was called up and saw just under eight minutes of ice time in his first game. It’s not a new issue in Edmonton - the bottom six has been a revolving door of underused or underperforming players for years - but it’s gaining traction again.
Former NHLers Derek Ryan and Rob Brown weighed in on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, and both had pointed takes.
Ryan, who spent time with the Oilers himself, didn’t hold back when asked if this team can be a legitimate Cup contender.
“Yes,” he said. “Yes, with an asterisk.”
That asterisk? It’s about role definition and opportunity for the depth players - the guys not named Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.
Ryan pointed out that for five years now, the team has struggled to give its depth players a real chance to contribute. Without that, he said, it always feels like “Connor and Leon’s team.”
It’s a fair point. When players don’t have a clear role, when they don’t feel like they’re part of the solution, it’s tough to build the kind of cohesion and confidence that winning teams rely on. And when your bottom six is constantly being shuffled or benched in high-leverage moments, it becomes even harder for those players to find any rhythm.
Rob Brown echoed that sentiment, noting that Ryan had previously criticized former coach Dave Tippett for the same issue. Brown pointed out that it’s tough to produce when you’re not getting consistent minutes or a defined role - and that this year’s bottom six has often looked like spectators more than contributors.
Yes, the production hasn’t been there statistically. But Brown argued that the numbers don’t tell the whole story. You can’t expect a third or fourth line to make an impact when they’re only getting short shifts and then immediately getting pulled after a decent possession or a strong forecheck.
He brought up a telling example: a third line might have a strong 20-second shift, force an offensive zone faceoff, and then get yanked in favor of McDavid or Draisaitl. It's understandable - you want your best players on the ice - but it also sends a message to the depth guys that their leash is short and their role is limited.
Brown referenced a great quote from Bruins forward Trent Frederic, who said, “When you’re on the fourth line, you’re hoping for a neutral zone faceoff and no TV timeouts.” That’s the reality - one commercial break, one missed opportunity, and your shift is gone. You’re back to the end of the line.
And that’s the challenge Knoblauch faces. He has to balance the urgency of winning now with the long-term need to build trust and chemistry across all four lines.
Edmonton’s top-end talent can win you games. But if the Oilers want to win a Cup, they’ll need more than just McDavid and Draisaitl.
They’ll need a full lineup that feels empowered, trusted, and ready to contribute.
Knoblauch has done a lot right since taking over. But if this team is going to take the next step, the bottom six can’t just be along for the ride - they’ve got to be part of the engine.