The Oilers’ Real Issue Was Never McDavid or Draisaitl

The Edmonton Oilers 2025–26 campaign had that frustrating “almost there” feeling. The elite talent was never the problem — McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard were doing what they do best. It was the rest of the group that too often looked like they didn’t quite belong on the same roster.

The real problem wasn’t just scoring either; it was defence and goaltending. All season long, the Oilers had trouble stacking wins because their zone coverage leaked chances, and the goaltending never really settled things down.

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The Connor Ingram Trade Became the Turning Point

That’s what pushed the front office into action. The Connor Ingram trade ended up being a bit of a turning point. Bringing in a goalie who could actually steady things gave the group some breathing room. It wasn’t about flashy numbers — it was more about calm, structure, and just not having chaos every night in the net.

The other deadline moves, including three players from Chicago, weren’t headline grabbers. Still, they were practical. They brought in solid depth pieces, responsible minutes, and players who could take a bit of pressure off the top end. Those kinds of moves don’t always stand out in the moment, but they matter over time.

What Made Things Anxious Was How Long It Took to See a Fix

The interesting part is how long it took to show up. For most of the year, the bottom six and depth pairings were a problem. The Oilers kept getting pinned in and forced into tougher matchups, and basically trying to survive shifts instead of controlling them. That kind of strain eventually catches up with elite players and usually shows up when the games matter most.

But down the stretch, you started to see it shift. The new pieces settled in, the structure tightened up, and even the forwards started tracking back with more purpose. Goaltending stopped being the nightly storyline. Finally, the team looked like it had some actual shape to it, rather than leaning entirely on star power.

The Oilers’ Late Success Helps the Team Look Forward

That late run doesn’t erase the frustration of the season, but it does point to something useful going forward. If Edmonton can get ahead of those depth and defensive issues earlier, and make sure the crease isn’t a question mark by spring, things look a lot different.

The Ingram move and the Chicago pickups feel like the kind of deadline work that only really shows its value in hindsight — steady fixes that quietly let the stars do their job. If they build on that instead of treating it like a short-term patch, next season could look a lot more stable from the start.

Related: Path to Another Deep Oilers Playoff Run Opened Up with Ducks Draw