The Edmonton Oilers have started the 2025-26 NHL season inconsistently, mirroring past trends of slow beginnings followed by stronger play later. Key concerns include Mattias Ekholm's defensive lapses and broader issues with even-strength offense and turnovers. While goaltending has drawn criticism, it is not the team's primary problem after 15 games.
The Edmonton Oilers' 2025-26 season has begun with familiar inconsistencies, as the team struggles through its first 15 games. Players like Andrew Mangiapane, Trent Frederic, Evan Bouchard, David Tomasek, Connor McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl have underperformed offensively, while goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have delivered average results at best.
Mattias Ekholm, signed to a three-year, $12 million extension before the season at age 35, has been a focal point of concern. Acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, Ekholm played 65 regular-season games last year plus seven in the playoffs, showing signs of wear. This season, he has one goal and five assists, but his defensive play has faltered with a -6 plus/minus rating, tied for third-worst on the team. His 27 giveaways lead the Oilers and rank fifth-worst league-wide, putting him on pace for 148 over 82 games—up from a projected 104 last season and 58 in 2023-24. The Ekholm-Bouchard pairing has struggled, with Bouchard at -9 plus/minus.
Goaltending is not the biggest issue, despite Pickard's 3.42 goals-against average and .850 save percentage in five starts. Skinner has a 2.54 GAA and .899 SV% in 10 starts, comparable to higher-paid netminders like Jeremy Swayman (.897 SV%), Ilya Sorokin (.879 SV%), and Juuse Saros (.900 SV%). The Oilers allow just 24.9 shots per game, third-fewest in the NHL, but costly turnovers create high-danger chances against.
Offense at even strength is a major weakness, with the team ranking 29th in expected goals per 60 minutes (2.31), 27th in scoring chances per 60, 31st in high-danger chances per 60 (8.82), and 24th in shot attempts per 60. They are 21st in high-danger chances overall with 113, scoring 3.07 goals per game (17th), propped up by a top-ranked power play. Last season, they ranked second, third, second, and sixth in those categories, respectively.
Recent games highlight these issues. Against the Dallas Stars, Edmonton held a two-goal lead but surrendered it due to turnovers, allowing Dallas an 11-3 high-danger chance edge at five-on-five, including 4-1 in the third period. On Nov. 1 versus the Chicago Blackhawks, Skinner stopped a breakaway to preserve a one-goal lead. The Oilers host the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 8, aiming to address these trends before Ekholm's $4 million cap hit extension becomes a liability.