Back to Dallas Stars Roundtable
Rob Couch
RobCouch@THNew
10 followers · 1 followings
Rob Couch is the Deputy Editor for the Chicago Blackhawks team site with The Hockey News. He has been writing about hockey, fantasy hockey, and betting for three years and watches as much hockey as possible. You can follow him at @RobCouch555 on Twitter.
Joined at May 22, 2024Activity
Dallas Stars RoundtablePublished
Comments
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
EDMONTON – The trade deadline is a great time for hockey fans.
The rumors ahead of deals being made are one of the ways that many fans of the sport spend their time scrolling through the internet. And in the aftermath, failed deals come to light.
For the Edmonton Oilers, it looks like they came close to one deal.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
According to RG, the Oilers were interested in New York Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Ultimately, any potential deal fell through, and the Oilers pivoted to acquire Trent Frederic and Max Jones. A source also confirmed this with The Hockey News.
A report published by RG cites two primary reasons the Islanders didn't execute a Pageau deal with the Oilers at the trade deadline.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025
3 Best Oilers' Trades By Stan Bowman
Islanders Weren't Willing To Retain Salary
Pageau's $5 million contract is valid until the end of the 2025-26 NHL season. However, the Oilers' salary cap situation means they couldn't absorb the entire cap hit for the veteran center.
Unfortunately, the Islanders didn't want to retain salary in the deal. Instead, they made a deal to trade away center Brock Nelson, who has an expiring contract. So retaining salary on a Nelson deal made more sense because the retained salary would only be for the remainder of the current NHL season.
Islanders Didn't Want Just Draft Picks
Another reason the Islanders pivoted to a Nelson deal was the return. In addition to draft picks, they acquired prospect Cal Ritchie. They expect Ritchie to be ready to play NHL games at the beginning of next season.
Looking at the Oilers prospect chart, it's clear who the Islanders would have wanted in a Pageau trade. They would likely have been eyeing one of Matt Savoie or Sam O'Reilly. Considering that the quality of the team's prospects falls off after that would be enough reason to give the organization pause.
In the end, they gave up some draft picks and Shane LeChance, a prospect whose rights with the team were expiring at the end of the current season.
Failed Pageau Trade Is A Missed Opportunity
Acquiring Pageau would have been an incredible addition to the Oilers. He is a hard-working two-way player who can chip in a good amount of offense. Pageau is in his fourth full season with the Islanders, scoring at least 33 points each year.
He currently has 37 points in 68 games while averaging 17:02 per game. Pageau would have been an excellent middle-six center who would have given coach Kris Knoblauch a lot of roster flexibility. He is also a right-handed shooter.
While Frederic doesn't bring all of the same elements as Pageau, he is unique in his own way and will be a contributing member of the team once he is healthy again.
Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers AHL Team
EDMONTON – Departures grant opportunities.
Opportunities to those who might not otherwise be given them.
The Edmonton Oilers know a thing or two about that right now. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl inching toward returning to game action, Jeff Skinner, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Adam Henrique have seen an uptick in ice time and responsibilities.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Additionally, with Stuart Skinner's injury to contend with, farmhand Olivier Rodrigue received his first taste of the NHL. He performed admirably in a losing cause and requires further evaluation by the coaching staff.
Trending Oilers Stories
5 Surprising Oilers Stats From Brutal Loss
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025
However, his departure from the Bakersfield Condors meant an opportunity for someone else. Enter Brett Brochu.
Brochu is a 22-year-old goaltender who just played his first game with the Condors. He went undrafted, and worked his way up from the OHL to full-time ECHL goalie.
He has spent two years with the Fort Wayne Komets, the Oilers' ECHL affiliate. In 35 games, Brochu has a 20-10-4 record, a 2.41 goals against average (GAA), a .924 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout.
With that in mind, he was called up to the Condors to show what he could do.
The result? An 8-2 win for the Condors. Brochu stopped 33 of 35 shots fired his way. He earned a .943 SV% and third-star honors for his performance.
After the game, Brochu revealed what it was like to get his first start with the Condors.
“I’m glad that they gave me the opportunity,” Brochu said. “For me, it’s just for me to improve and show that I can play in this league. I haven’t gotten much opportunity here. I’m looking to keep building on this and hopefully get some more starts.”
As far as opportunity goes, this was Brochu’s third-ever AHL game and his first career AHL win. Condors head coach Colin Chaulk talked about the reasons behind starting Brochu over Colin Delia.
“Colin (Delia) hadn’t played a back-to-back and we wanted to see what we had in him,” Chaulk revealed.
The Condors are back in action on Saturday night, playing the Tuscon Roadrunners at home. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM Pacific.
Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
2
0
Oilers Projected Lineup Today Against Red-Hot Golden Knights
The Edmonton Oilers had a busy practice on Tuesday morning.
The big news was the presence of the injured Connor McDavid, Trent Frederic, and Evander Kane in non-contact jerseys. None of the three will play against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, but it's an encouraging sign for each of them as Frederic skates with his new team for the first time, and the door is open for McDavid to return during their four-game road trip.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The rest of the roster will have a formidable challenge in front of them as they take on the division-leading Golden Knights, who come into Tuesday's game riding a six-game win streak.
That hot streak, coupled with the recent injuries to McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, has effectively buried any chance the Oilers had at catching Vegas for the Pacific Division crown. The Golden Knights are nine points up on the Oilers with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Absent from Oilers practice was Mattias Ekholm, still struggling with a nagging injury that's kept him out of the lineup for the past two games. He's missed eight of the Oilers' eighteen games since the 4 Nations Face-Off. With Ekholm out, Jake Walman will remain on an offense-heavy top pairing with Evan Bouchard.
Trending Oilers Articles
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Ex-Oiler Warren Foegele Hits New Heights In Los Angeles
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Up front, Jeff Skinner will slide back down to the third line, where he acquitted himself very well in McDavid and Draisaitl's absence, while Kasperi Kapanen brings his speed to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins' second line.
The first line remains the same from their win over Calgary on Saturday, though Draisaitl will almost certainly see minutes with almost every winger as Kris Knoblauch double-shifts him against Vegas' deep lineup.
With Stuart Skinner still out day-to-day, Calvin Pickard will get his third consecutive start for the first time this season. Pickard rebounded from his debacle in Seattle with a solid 26-save win over the Flames on Saturday, lifting his record to 18-8-1 despite an .899 save percentage.
The puck drops between the Oilers and Golden Knights at 8:00 PM, on Sportsnet.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more2
0
1
0
Oilers Injury Report: Trent Frederic, Evander Kane, Connor McDavid
EDMONTON – All aboard.
Everybody enjoys a good time, especially if that good time involves winning.
The Edmonton Oilers turned their win over the Calgary Flames into a streak with a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The Oilers iced the same roster that won Saturday night. However, the team has updates on a few players on the shelf. For starters, all three of these players skated with the team Tuesday morning in non-contact jerseys.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers April 2025 Schedule: The Big, Final Push
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
5 Best NHL Player Agents Ranked by How Much All Their Clients Make
Trent Frederic
For the first time his the trade, Trent Frederic participated in a skate. When he was acquired, it was known that he was recovering from an ankle injury.
Frederic joining the team at this point is a very positive sign. On March 21st, it was reported that he would be out at least another two weeks. That two-week timeline ends on Friday, April 4th. That would be the absolute earliest you could expect to see Frederic in a game.
Evander Kane
Evander Kane has been skating with the team for a bit. He is recovering from both knee surgery and core/sports hernia surgery.
Similar to Frederic, it’s a positive sign that he is skating with the team. Unfortunately for Kane (and the Oilers) he won’t be ready for the end of the regular season. At this point, the goal for Kane is just to get his legs up to speed until he can get into a game situation.
Connor McDavid
In a surprising move, Connor McDavid joined the Oilers for the beginning of the road trip, despite Kris Knoblauch giving information to the contrary.
It sounds like a lot is up in the air regarding McDavid’s availability for the remainder of the season. Knoblauch made it sound like he could be back for the last week of the regular season, but did not give a definitive timeline on the Captain’s return.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
3
0
Oilers Send Down Derek Ryan Amidst Goaltending Crisis
You may have heard the Edmonton Oilers are dealing with some injuries right now.
Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are out. Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard had injury scares on Wednesday. Stuart Skinner left that same game with a head injury and won't travel with the team to Seattle on Thursday, so the Oilers called up Olivier Rodrigue from the AHL. To make room for the young netminder, veteran forward Derek Ryan is heading back to Bakersfield.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Ryan's second stint with the big club was a short one. Waived in January to accommodate rookie Noah Philp, Ryan was recalled on March 18th to provide extra forward depth after the trade deadline.
He played two games with the team after his recall, filling his usual role on the fourth line with McDavid and Draisaitl out. The 38-year-old center has played a total of 35 games with the Oilers this season and picked up one goal and five points.
Trending Oilers Articles
Oilers' Olivier Rodrigue Must Be Recalled Right Now
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Since he cleared waivers back in January, he's eligible to be loaned back to Bakersfield without needing to pass through them again. He's scored three goals and eight points in 13 games with the Condors this season.
Ryan will almost certainly be back up once everyone is healthy, or at least for the playoffs. Though he's unlikely to make much of an impact on the ice, he's well-loved in the locker room and brings plenty of experience and heart to the team.
The Oilers, with Rodrigue in tow, face off against the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night at Climate Pledge Arena.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See morethehockeynews.comOilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau TradeEDMONTON – The trade deadline is a great time for hockey fans.
2
0
1
0
Oilers Key Player Grades: Leon Draisaitl's Legacy Game
Big players show up in big games.
Leon Draisaitl was magnificent in his return from injury on Saturday, almost single-handedly lifting the Edmonton Oilers over the Calgary Flames in overtime in the final Battle of Alberta of the season.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
With their 3-2 win, the Oilers fought their way back into the Pacific Division race while also effectively burying their provincial rivals, who now sit eight points back of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Key Player Grades
Leon Draisaitl: A+
Now that's what an MVP looks like. Draisaitl wasn't even supposed to play on Saturday, but he argued his way into the lineup against the Flames and didn't disappoint. He factored into all three Oilers goals, setting up Viktor Arvidsson with a gorgeous pass in the second before scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals to complete Edmonton's third-period comeback.
Even better, Draisaitl's first goal was his 50th of the season, clinching the fourth 50-goal campaign of his career. His 51 goals this year are nine(!) more than second-place William Nylander. On top of that, his sixth overtime goal of the season set the NHL record for most in one year.
"I think he sure garnered a few votes for some hardware after this season," head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game. Hard to argue there.
Trending Oilers Articles
5 Surprising Oilers Stats From Brutal Loss
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
Oilers Starting Lineup Today: Draisaitl Returns Against Flames
Viktor Arvidsson: B+
Before Draisaitl came alive in the third, Viktor Arvidsson was the Oilers' best player on Saturday night. He scored Edmonton's first goal on a sweet feed from Draisaitl in the second period and was all over the ice the entire night. His expected goals share of 79% led the Oilers.
Corey Perry: B
Draisaitl's late-game heroics may have won the game, but they probably don't happen without the intervention of Corey Perry late in the second period.
After chastising himself for not defending his netminder against Dallas on Wednesday, Perry did not make the same mistake twice. Late in the second, he took exception to a snow shower delivered to Calvin Pickard by Mikael Backlund, tearing the Flames captain away from a scrum to deliver some vigilante justice.
Perry's--and everyone else's--engagement in that scrum seemed to galvanize the Oilers coming into the third period, refuting any claims that they lacked toughness. Darnell Nurse poked fun at that very idea after the game:
"I know our group has zero toughness," Nurse told the media sarcastically. "So hopefully we showed a little bit tonight."
The Oilers have had horrible injury luck in recent weeks, and it's still ongoing even with Draisaitl back. But everyone can breathe a little easier now that the Oilers have their MVP back, and more importantly, get back to winning hockey games.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more2
0
1
0
Oilers Olivier Rodrigue Must Be Recalled Right Now
EDMONTON – Houston, we have a problem.
As if there weren’t enough injuries surrounding this team, things got worse on Wednesday night.
The Edmonton Oilers lost a spirited game against the Dallas Stars on home ice with a 4-3 result. However, the real salt in the wound was Stuart Skinner leaving the game after taking a knee to the head from Mikko Rantanen.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
“No, I do not,” Kris Knoblauch revealed when asked for an update on Skinner. “I anticipate him not travelling,” Knoblauch responded to a question about Skinner joining the team on their way to play the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.
In light of this news, there’s a good chance that they will make a recall for Thursday night’s game if Skinner remains in Edmonton. There is an obvious candidate for a recall if that is the case.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025
Olivier Rodrigue Is The Goalie To Recall For The Oilers
Olivier Rodrigue is the starting goalie for the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. He has started a career-high 40 games this season.
Rodrigue holds an 18-15-7 record to go along with a 3.05 goals against average (GAA), a .899 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. He is one win away from tying his career-high in wins (19).
The 24-year-old netminder has been with the organization for a long time now. The 2018 draft selection is in his fifth season with the Condors. Rodrigue only played 23 games over the first two years, but has seen a dramatic increase of workload year-after-year.
It’s Decision Time For The Oilers And Rodrigue
Rodrigue is an RFA after this season concludes. It would be prudent of the organization to see what exactly they have in him at the NHL-level.
The Oilers are not absent of goaltender prospects. Connor Ungar, Ty Taylor, Nathaniel Day, Samuel Jonsson, and Eemil Vinni are also in the pipeline.
However, Rodrigue has never played an NHL game in his career. Combine that with the fact that his contract expires at the end of this season and it only makes sense that he would get the nod, especially if Skinner is expected to miss a bit of time.
Saddle up, Oil Country, things could get interesting soon.
*Update: The Oilers have officially recalled Rodrigue and loaned Derek Ryan to the Condors.
Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic
EDMONTON – Movies are forever.
Biopics of famous people are known to stand the test of time. They appeal to vast audiences, because they offer an intimacy into a person’s life that most people don’t see.
That’s why Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid should have a biopic made about his life. He is one of the best to play hockey, and there is a depth to him that most don’t see. The injuries that he has overcome are already inspiring.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
With all of that in mind, here are four reasons why there should be a biopic of McDavid’s life.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Key Player Grades: A Gutsy Win In Vegas
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
Oilers Ink Towering Forward Josh Samanski
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Connor McDavid Is One Of The Best Hockey Players Ever
McDavid will go down in history as one of the best hockey players to ever play in the NHL. He’s only 28-years-old and is showing no signs of slowing down in his pursuit of the ultimate prize, the Stanley Cup.
Last season, he became the fourth player in history to record 100 assists in a season. Before him, only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Bobby Orr had ever achieved that feat (Nikita Kucherov would reach the same milestone a few games later).
McDavid currently sits 71st overall in the all-time points leaderboard, with 1072. Additionally, with 711 assists, he's ranked 60th all-time in career assists.
However, McDavid's career is far from over.
Every player (except Mario Lemieux) in the top 10 all-time scoring list has played at least 1300 games. McDavid has played 708 games, while recording 1.51 points per game over his career.
If we apply that production level over a 1300-game career, he is on pace to have 1966 points by the time he hangs up his skates. If McDavid achieves that, he will be the second-highest scoring NHLer of all time behind only Gretzky.
Connor McDavid Would Be A Great Character For The Right Actor
McDavid has a tremendous amount of depth to him that the public hasn’t been privy to. Since late last season, he has really been coming out of his shell with the media, and being more comfortable under the microscope.
He’s faced an intense pressure his whole life, and that kind of character would be a goldmine for an actor. Most actors love participating in biopics, primarily because those films are (typically) enjoyed by the Oscars’ voting body.
The chance to play a hockey icon in the making would be one that any number of young actors would pounce at the opportunity, if it presented itself.
McDavid’s Injury Recoveries Are Inspiring
The Oilers captain is no stranger to injuries. The two biggest injuries of his career were a collarbone injury in his rookie season and a knee injury at the end of the 2018-19 season.
McDavid’s collarbone injury had him sidelined for half of the season, missing out on his opportunity to win the Calder Trophy for best rookie. A few years later, his knee injury could have potentially ended his career – but more on that later.
Connor McDavid Has Already Been On Screen
McDavid is no stranger to the glitz and glamor of the spotlight. This happened most recently during the premiere season of Faceoff: Inside The NHL.
Two of the six episodes of the debut season focus on McDavid, and the Oilers pursuit of the Stanley Cup last season. It offered a close up look at McDavid and all of the emotions surrounding winning and losing.
But that wasn’t his first foray into documentary filmmaking. In the wake of his recovery from his major knee injury, a documentary special titled Whatever It Takes, debuted.
The special revealed the full nature of McDavid’s injury, as well as laying out what was truly at stake with his injury and all of the recovery options. He suffered a full PCL tear (among other things) and decided to undergo a rigorous rehabilitation regime instead of surgery. Surgery had a projected 10-month recovery timeline.
In the end, he was ready for opening night of the following season, and didn’t miss a single game.
Considering all of these factors, there is more than enough material to make McDavid the subject of a biopic.
Would you watch a biopic about McDavid in the future? Let us know what you think and comment below with your thoughts. Please vote in the poll at the end of this article to let your voice be heard.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See moreYes, I'd watch it.
100%3 users
No thanks.
0%What's a biopic?
0%0
0
2
0
5 Surprising Oilers Stats From Brutal Loss
EDMONTON – You can’t win them all.
The season may be closing soon, but that doesn’t mean the losses stop.
The Edmonton Oilers suffered an embarrassing 6-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night. This came after Derek Ryan was demoted and goalie protégé Olivier Rodrigue was called up.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Here are the most interesting stats from the loss.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Olivier Rodrigue Must Be Recalled Right Now
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
18:10 Time On Ice
With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still on the shelf, every forward has picked up the slack. The latest forward to earn more ice time was Adam Henrique.
In Thursday night’s loss, he played 18:10, the most of any Oilers’ forward. The next highest was Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with 17:56, followed by Zach Hyman (17:33) and Jeff Skinner (16:40).
5 Shots
You need to shoot the puck to score, and two Oilers led the way in this manner. Skinner, as mentioned earlier, and Jake Walman both had five shots. The team finished the game with 37 shots.
26 Hits
The Oilers out-hit the Kraken 26-15. Of those hits, six of them came from Vasily Podkolzin throwing his weight around.
The Oilers' supposed lack of intensity has been documented this season. There have been teams that are doing very well and are on both ends of the hitting spectrum.
0.7 Goals Saved Above Expected
Rodrigue was given the nod for the third period on Thursday. The young netminder faced eight shots and made seven saves.
According to MoneyPuck, Rodrigue saved 0.7 goals above expected. That’s a fancy way of saying that the 24-year-old made more saves than he should have given the quality and volume of chances. Not bad for his first taste of the big leagues.
11-3 Shot Attempts
The Oilers iced a bizarre roster. They played 11-7, but the Oilers’ seventh defender, Troy Stecher, took line rushes during warmups at forward.
Darnell Nurse and Walman served as one of the pairings for the game. This was a great choice as they out-chanced their opponents 11-3 while on the ice together.
The Oilers will be back in action on Saturday night to play against the Calgary Flames.
Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Key Player Grades: The Comeback That Wasn't
It wasn't a win, but what a turnaround.
Halfway through the third period Edmonton Oilers' eventual loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday, the mood in Rogers Place couldn't be worse. They were down 4-0, missing top two players, Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard had their own injury scares, and Stuart Skinner was just pulled from the game after a scary collision with Mikko Rantanen. All hope was lost.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
But then they made a game of it, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes to put a real scare into the Stars. They were tantalizingly close to the comeback but just ran out of time, losing 4-3 in one of the most eventful games of their season.
Key Player Grades
Mattias Ekholm: C+
Ekholm had one of his worst half-games as an Oiler on Wednesday, holding a -3 through two periods and factoring--negatively--into all three of those goals.
Ekholm rebounded in the third, picking up an assist and salvaging a 55% expected goals share, but the veteran blueliner was uncharacteristically mistake-prone against a high-powered Stars team. He'll have to get that sorted out come the playoffs, because it's not going to get any easier from here on out.
Trending Oilers Articles
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
'His Legs Are a Gift': Connor McDavid Praises Defenseman Philip Broberg After a Milestone Setting Night
Oilers Game Schedule For March 2025
Ex-Oiler Pat Maroon Makes Big Emotional Announcement
Zach Hyman: B
Hyman scored the Oilers' final goal, potting his 26th of the year in classic Hyman fashion to make it 4-3 with a minute and a half to go
It looked for a while like we might not see Hyman again for a long time, let alone again that night. He left the game early in the second after an awkward fall, seeming to twist his knee when he got tied up with Mason Marchment.
We've certainly seen plays like that end players' seasons before, but luckily, Hyman was okay, returning to the bench just as Evan Bouchard left after taking a shot off his foot (Bouchard would also return). Already without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, it's hard to even imagine what the Oilers would look like with Hyman and Bouchard out as well.
Corey Perry: B+
Leave it to the veterans to rally the troops. Perry picked up a goal and an assist during the Oilers' aborted comeback as the powerplay kept humming along without its two massive turbine engines.
Perry himself left the game with regrets. Asked about his team's reaction to the Stars driving the net and injuring Skinner, Perry didn't mince words:
"I was pissed at myself," he told the media after the game. "I didn't see what happened, and that's on me, I should never let that happen."
Skinner didn't return after taking a knee to the head, and head coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game that he likely won't join the team on their one-game road trip to Seattle on Thursday. This is the second time in three games Skinner has been pulled by the concussion spotter.
The Oilers continue onto Seattle to face the Kraken, before returning home for the Battle of Alberta on Saturday.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Starting Lineup Today: Leon Draisaitl Returns Against Flames
Edmonton Oilers fans can breathe a little easier.
Leon Draisaitl returns to the lineup after his four-game injury absence on Saturday, just in time for the final Battle of Alberta of the season. While the Oilers are still far from fully healthy, getting the Hart candidate back in the lineup can only be a good thing.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Connor McDavid and Stuart Skinner remain out day-to-day with their respective injuries, though both should be back within the week. Mattias Ekholm will miss his second consecutive game after taking a maintenance day on Thursday in Seattle. Ekholm missed six games earlier this month with a lower-body injury.
Calvin Pickard will start in net against the Calgary Flames after being replaced by rookie Olivier Rodrigue two periods into Thursday's loss to the Kraken. Pickard allowed five goals on 29 shots against Seattle, while Rodrigue saved seven of the eight shots he faced in relief in his NHL debut.
Trending Oilers Articles
5 Surprising Oilers Stats From Brutal Loss
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
5 Surprising Oilers Stats From Brutal Loss
Draisaitl's return and Ekholm's absence necessitate some changes to the Oilers' lineup, as Jake Walman moves to the top pair with Evan Bouchard, and Draisaitl will play with his familiar linemates, Vasily Podkolzin and Viktor Arvidsson.
That leaves Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to play with Jeff Skinner and Zach Hyman as Edmonton's three hottest forwards unite to try and replace Connor McDavid's production.
They'll face a Flames team fighting for their playoff lives. Calgary is one of the many teams that's been overtaken by the St. Louis Blues' blistering hot streak, and they now sit six points behind the Blues with three games in hand. With their playoff odds at just 20%, the Flames need all the wins they can get from here on out.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are fighting for home-ice advantage in their likely first-round rematch with the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are two points up on the Oilers with a game in hand and have won eight of their last ten games.
Draisaitl and the Oilers face off against the Flames at Rogers Place at 8:00, on Hockey Night In Canada.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
2
0
Oilers April 2025 Schedule: The Big, Final Push
EDMONTON – The end is in sight.
April marks the last month of the regular season.
For Edmonton Oilers fans, the end can’t come fast enough. Stuart Skinner and Connor McDavid are still injured, despite Leon Draisaitl returning to action impressively.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. Add us to your Google News favorites, and never miss a story.
To commemorate the end of March, here is their April schedule, complete with game results, Oilers scoring leaders, and updated Pacific Division standings.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Ex-Oiler Warren Foegele Hits New Heights In Los Angeles
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Oilers Schedule For April 2025
Here are all of the games that the Oilers have scheduled for the month of April.
April 1st (Tuesday) vs. Vegas Golden Knights @ 8:00 PM Mountain (Away)
April 3rd (Thursday) vs. San Jose Sharks @ 8:30 PM Mountain (Away)
April 5th (Saturday) vs. Los Angeles Kings @ 2:00 PM Mountain (Away)
April 7th (Monday) vs. Anaheim Ducks @ 8:30 PM Mountain (Away)
April 9th (Wednesday) vs. St. Louis Blues @ 8:00 PM Mountain (Home)
April 11th (Friday) vs. San Jose Sharks @ 7:30 PM Mountain (Home)
April 13th (Sunday) vs. Winnipeg Jets @ 5:00 PM Mountain (Away)
April 14th (Monday) vs. Los Angeles Kings @ 8:00 PM Mountain (Home)
April 16th (Wednesday) vs. San Jose Sharks @ 8:30 PM Mountain (Away)
April Game Results For The Oilers
*This section will be updated as the games played.
Oilers Scoring Leaders 2024-25
These are the top scorers for the Oilers in 2024-25.
1. Leon Draisaitl 104 PTS: 69 GP, 51 G, 53 A, 21:40 TOI
2. Connor McDavid 90 PTS: 63 GP, 26 G, 64 A, 22:08 TOI
3. Evan Bouchard 58 PTS: 73 GP, 13 G, 45 A, 23:23 TOI
4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 48 PTS: 72 GP, 20 G, 28 A, 18:56 TOI
5. Zach Hyman 44 PTS: 67 GP, 27 G, 17 A, 19:03 TOI
6. Jake Walman 37 PTS: 61 GP, 6 G, 31 A, 22:51 TOI
7. Mattias Ekholm 33 PTS: 64 GP, 9 G, 24 A, 22:31 TOI
8. Darnell Nurse 30 PTS: 68 GP, 5 G, 25 A, 22:15 TOI
9. Corey Perry 25 PTS: 72 GP, 16 G, 9 A, 11:42 TOI
10. Jeff Skinner 25 PTS: 63 GP, 14 G, 11 A, 12:44 TOI
2025 Pacific Division Standings
These are the current Pacific Division standings. Teams eliminated from the playoffs are italicised.
1. Vegas Golden Knights: 73 GP - 45 W - 20 L - 8 OT - 98 PTS
2. Los Angeles Kings: 73 GP - 41 W - 23 L - 9 OT - 91 PTS
3. Edmonton Oilers: 73 GP - 42 W - 26 L - 5 OT - 89 PTS
4. Calgary Flames: 73 GP - 35 W - 26 L - 12 OT - 82 PTS
5. Vancouver Canucks: 74 GP - 34 W - 27 L - 13 OT - 81 PTS
6. Anaheim Ducks: 73 GP - 32 W - 33 L - 8 OT - 72 PTS
7. Seattle Kraken: 75 GP - 31 W - 38 L - 6 OT - 68 PTS
8. San Jose Sharks: 73 GP - 20 W - 44 L - 9 OT - 49` PTS
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Key Player Grades: A Gutsy Win In Vegas
Playoff hockey is just three weeks away, but fans in Las Vegas got an early look on Tuesday night.
Still without two of their most important players, the Edmonton Oilers rallied from a slow start to pull out a massive 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, snapping their division rival's six-game win streak.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The Oilers rode a three-goal second period and a frenetic, hard-fought third to come away with their league-leading 21st one-goal win. They now have 91 points with eight games left in the season, seven back of the Golden Knights for the division lead.
Key Player Grades
Jake Walman: A
Walman has been a massive addition to the Oilers' blueline, picking up five assists in 11 games while bringing another dynamic element to the team and replacing the injured Mattias Ekholm. He finally scored his first goal as an Oiler on Tuesday, tying the game at one just 19 seconds into the second period with an absolute laser.
Walman led all Oilers defensemen with an 85% even strength expected goals share on Tuesday, picking up a +2 line on top of his seventh goal of the season.
Trending Oilers Articles
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Ex-Oiler Warren Foegele Hits New Heights In Los Angeles
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Vasily Podkolzin: B+
Podkolzin may have only picked up an assist, but he was the Oilers' best player against the Golden Knights on Tuesday. He was in peak form, a forechecking demon and bruising power forward who made plays at both ends of the ice and pitched in four hits for good measure. His line with Viktor Arvidsson and Draisaitl was huge in all situations, with his linemates contributing the Oilers' second and third goals.
Calvin Pickard: A
Second period aside, the Oilers don't win on Tuesday without Calvin Pickard's performance. He kept them in the game during a horrific first period, allowing just one goal, and some massive saves late in the third period to turn back the Golden Knights' attempted comeback.
Tasked with starting three consecutive games for the first time as an Oiler, Pickard answered the bell with 20 saves and a .909 save percentage. Given the Oilers' formidable offensive weapons, that might just be all they need.
Plenty of Oilers had good nights: Kasperi Kapanen had one of his best games as an Oiler, Evan Bouchard added two assists to get to 60 points on the year, and Leon Draisaitl scored his 52nd goal of the season. With Connor McDavid's return still in doubt, they'll all need to keep it up as they continue on their four-game road trip on Thursday in San Jose.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more2
0
1
0
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
The NCAA hockey season is wrapping up, which means it's college free agent season.
While all the headlines go to the big prospects signing with the teams that drafted them (Jimmy Snuggerud in St. Louis and Ryan Leonard in Washington, to name just two), there are plenty of quality players to be found among the older cohort.
The Edmonton Oilers picked up one on Monday, announcing the signing of Ohio State defenseman Damien Carfagna to a two-year entry-level contract.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The undrafted defender has spent the past two seasons at Ohio State, scoring 28 points in 38 games this season and helping the Buckeyes to their third Big-10 final, where they lost in double overtime to Michigan State.
Carfagna's scouting report from his draft year (2021) describes him as a defensive defenseman who's skilled at preventing zone entries. Despite that, the 22-year-old was second among Buckeyes defensemen in points this season and fifth overall. He also led the team with a +16 plus-minus.
Trending Oilers Articles
Ex-Oiler Warren Foegele Hits New Heights In Los Angeles
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
The Oilers know their way around college free agents. They of course signed Justin Schultz out of the University of Wisconsin in 2012, and have plucked Drake Caggiula, Vincent Desharnais, and Michael Kesselring out of the NCAA in recent years as well.
Seems, then, like the trouble with Carfagna will be less turning him into something useful, and more keeping him in Edmonton.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more2
0
1
0
Ex-Oiler Warren Foegele Hits New Heights In Los Angeles
The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are pretty sick of each other at this point.
They've already played each other in the first round of the playoff three times in a row, and they're on a collision course once more. That makes it all the more surprising that they poached each other's free agents over the offseason, with Viktor Arvidsson heading to Edmonton from L.A. and Warren Foegele going the other way.
So far, the Kings are winning.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
While Viktor Arvidsson has had a difficult first year in Alberta, Foegele has taken very well to life in Southern California. His two-goal performance on Sunday against San Jose lifted his season totals up to 22 goals and 42 points, surpassing the career-highs of 20 and 41 he collected in his final season with the Oilers.
Arvidsson, meanwhile, has scored half as many goals and just 23 points in 58 games as he's scored at his lowest rate since his rookie year in 2015-16. Though he's missed some time, those numbers are nowhere near good enough, while Foegele has been a pleasant surprise for the surging Kings.
Trending Oilers Articles
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
Edmonton Oilers Prospects: William Nicholl Quietly Impressive
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Oilers 2025 Playoff Tickets: Buy Them Now With Pre-Sale
Making matters worse, Arvidsson's most common linemate this season has been Leon Draisaitl, while Foegele has taken Arvidsson's spot on a checking line with Philip Danault and Trevor Moore in L.A. Danault and Moore are fine players, but they're not Leon Draisaitl, and Arvidsson and Foegele's deployment makes the gap in production that much harder to swallow.
Foegele's comments since joining the Kings are even harder to swallow.
"I hate the Oilers too, it's just part of the gig," he said in a recent video on the Kings' social media. Ouch.
For the Oilers, Foegele's improvement in Los Angeles and Arvidsson's regression in Edmonton should invite a lot of hard questions. What did they miss when evaluating these two players in free agency? Should they be focusing more on youth than past production in the offseason? How did they get this so wrong?
Between Foegele's big year with their division rivals and Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg's breakouts in St. Louis, the Oilers' 2024 offseason is looking worse by the day. Will they learn their lesson come July?
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more1
0
1
0
Oilers Ink Towering Forward Josh Samanski
EDMONTON – Teams need to scour everywhere to find talent.
Championship teams do this more often than not, because of how often they are tight to the salary cap ceiling.
The Edmonton Oilers have a few signed prospects battling in their respective teams’ playoff runs. Another prospect, Samuel Jonsson, is competing with his team to advance past the Semi-Final of the Hockey Allsvenskan playoffs.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
On Wednesday morning, the Oilers announced a signing. This signing was reported nearly a week ago, but it finally came to fruition.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Key Player Grades: A Gutsy Win In Vegas
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
Brett Brochu Shines For Oilers' AHL Team
Josh Samanski signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Oilers. The 23-year-old 6-foot-5 left-handed center took a big step forward this season.
Samanski scored 40 points in 52 games for the Straubing Tigers of the DEL. He led his team in points and assists with 26. Additionally, he recorded four points in seven playoff games.
He had 112 shots, and finished the year with a 52.87 per cent success rate in the faceoff circle.
The 2024-25 season was his third full year competing in the DEL. In 2022-23, he finished the year with nine goals, nine assists, and 18 points in 48 games. The following year (2023-24) he played 51 games, recording 10 goals, and 17 assists for 27 points.
Samanski gives the Oilers a center prospect with size who has great skill. The DEL is a competitive league in Germany where the majority of the players are older prospects, career DELers, and former NHLers who travelled overseas to continue their careers.
We will wait to see if Samanski will report to the Bakersfield Condors, or continue his playing career in the DEL.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Calvin Pickard Hits New Milestone
EDMONTON – All you need is a chance.
In hockey, you need your goaltender to give you a chance to win on most nights.
For the Edmonton Oilers, they decided to stick with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard this season. For the most part, it’s worked out.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The Oilers are in third place in the Pacific Division and poised to face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs (yet again).
Skinner has not been available to the Oilers for just over a week and Pickard has picked up the slack. Despite calling up top farm-hand Olivier Rodrigue, the Oilers have heavily leaned on Pickard.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Injury Report: Trent Frederic, Evander Kane, Connor McDavid
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic
Oilers Add Swedish League's Leading Scorer For 2025-26
Oilers April 2025 Schedule: The Big, Final Push
He has started four straight games. Pickard has mustered up a 3-1 record in tandem with save percentages of .828, .929, .909, and .931 in those games.
But now, he has achieved something this season that he hasn’t yet in his career. With Thursday night’s 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, Pickard has recorded his 20th win of the year.
Calvin Pickard Is Having A Great Season For The Oilers
Last season, Pickard only played 20 games, mustering up a record of 12-7-1, along with a 2.45 goals against average (GAA), a .909 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. This year, he’s played in 32 games, boasting a 20-8-1 record, a 2.66 GAA, and a .901 SV%.
His 32 games played are the highest of his career since his 50-game season with the Colorado Avalanche back in 2016-17. Pickard only won 15 games that year, as it was a rebuilding season for the (now) powerhouse Avs.
Pickard is giving the Oilers a chance to win every night, and you can’t ask more than that from your backup goaltender.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Add Swedish League's Leading Scorer For 2025-26
Signing season rolls along.
Fresh off signing prospects Damien Carfagna from the NCAA and Josh Samanski from the DEL, the Edmonton Oilers have announced yet another signing: Czech forward David Tomasek.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Unlike Carfagna and Samanski, the 29-year-old Tomasek will be fighting for a spot on the Oilers out of training camp in 2025-26. The Oilers have good reason to believe he can: Tomasek led the Swedish Hockey League in scoring this past season, helping Farjestad to the regular season title with 24 goals and 57 points in 47 games.
Tomasek has played all over Europe: he's played three stints in his native Czechia, a season each in Finland and the KHL, and the past two seasons as one of the best players in the SHL.
Trending Oilers Articles
Oilers Ink Towering Forward Josh Samanski
Oilers Key Player Grades: A Gutsy Win In Vegas
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
Oilers Pivoted After Failed Jean-Gabriel Pageau Trade
This kind of signing is general manager Stan Bowman's bread and butter. During his tenure in Chicago, Bowman plucked players such as Artemi Panarin, Antti Raanta, Erik Gustafsson, and Dominik Kubalik out of Europe and turned them into valuable NHLers--invaluable, in Panarin's case.
Tomasek also resembles two former Oilers: Gaetan Haas and Joakim Nygard. Both players were signed out of Europe in 2019 and spent parts of two seasons in Edmonton as depth forwards.
Tomasek comes with higher potential than the two former Oilers. Nygard topped out at 35 points in his final season before coming to Edmonton, and Tomasek has outscored the Swedish winger in their two years together as teammates with Farjestad.
Though Tomasek won't arrive until next season, it never hurts to think about the future. The Oilers will need solid, cheap depth forwards next season, and Tomasek's $1.2 million cap hit shows the Oilers' confidence in him without making too much of a dent in their finances.
Only time will tell if the Czech forward can outperform the last batch of Oilers European signings.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
New Oilers Lines With Trent Frederic
EDMONTON – Hockey is a team game.
It’s very tough to go far in the NHL if you only have one player driving the bus.
Luckily for the Edmonton Oilers, they have many players who can step up with their superstars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid on the shelf. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jeff Skinner, and Calvin Pickard have all elevated their game at this crucial juncture of the year.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
The Oilers also have the luxury of having several players injured who have not played yet for the team this year. Evander Kane and Trent Frederic are two such players.
Trending Oilers Stories
Oilers Injury Report: Trent Frederic, Evander Kane, Connor McDavid
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic
Oilers Player Grades: Depth Steps Up In San Jose
Oilers Add Swedish League's Leading Scorer For 2025-26
Oilers April 2025 Schedule: The Big, Final Push
If there are any conclusions to draw from Friday’s practice, it’s that Frederic is ready to rock and roll.
Leon Draisaitl left Thursday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks in the second period with an injury. He is absent from Friday’s practice. As a result of this and Frederic jumping into the lineup, the forward lines are all mixed up.
Podkolzin, Nugent-Hopkins, & Arvidsson
Nugent-Hopkins assumes Draisaitl’s position being flanked by Viktor Arvidsson and Vasily Podkolzin. With the “German Gretzky” out, Nugent-Hopkins is the natural replacement for first line center.
This trio saw time together before Draisaitl came back from his last injury. Reuniting them makes sense on several levels, so no surprises here.
Frederic, Henrique, & Hyman
This is where the spicy meatball comes in. Frederic was on a line with Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman.
One of the great things about Frederic is his versatility. He was acquired primarily to be additional depth in the bottom-six. Now, he’s getting an opportunity to shine in the top six.
There might be no better time for Frederic to make his mark than right now. After all, you only get one first impression.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0
Oilers Player Grades: Depth Steps Up In San Jose
It took 75 games, but the Edmonton Oilers finally look like a fully constructed hockey team.
Considering they're currently dealing with a nasty injury bug and lost Leon Draisaitl again on Thursday night, that's pretty impressive. Beating the lowly San Jose Sharks 3-2 is nothing to write home about, but the way they did it says a lot about this team as they look towards the playoffs.
Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more.
Key Player Grades
Connor Brown: A
Who needs Connor McDavid when you have Connor Brown? The other Connor opened the scoring for the Oilers on Thursday with a frankly shocking burst of speed to split the Sharks' defenders and beat rookie netminder Georgi Romanov for his ninth goal of the season.
Brown's game wasn't all flash, either. He and linemate Mattias Janmark were dominant on Thursday, playing to respective 94% and 96% expected goals shares in one of their best games of the season.
Trending Oilers Articles
Oilers Ink Towering Forward Josh Samanski
Oilers Prospects: College Defenseman Damien Carfagna Signs Contract
4 Reasons There Needs To Be A Connor McDavid Biopic
Oilers Add Swedish League's Leading Scorer For 2025-26
Viktor Arvidsson: B+
Arvidsson is heating up at the right time. He scored his first powerplay goal of the season in the second period, giving him goals in three straight games for the first time this season. He's scored six of his 13 goals since March 8th, a brief sign of the 25-goal player he's been in the past. The Oilers could use a whole lot more of that.
Jeff Skinner: A+
What a strange season for Jeff Skinner. Despite struggling to score and to stay in the lineup for much of the season, the veteran winger has emerged as one of the Oilers' top forwards since Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were injured.
He contributed two more points on Thursday, including the game-winning goal, and won 92% of the expected goals while he was on the ice. A fully operational Skinner and Arvidsson combo would make the Oilers a scary proposition in the playoffs.
Despite the win, the biggest outcome of Thursday's game has yet to be revealed. Leon Draisaitl left the game in the second period after a couple of hard falls and seemed to be limping down the tunnel to the dressing room as he left. Draisaitl made his return from injury less than a week ago against Calgary on Saturday.
With or without Draisaitl, the Oilers move on to one of their biggest games of the season this Saturday: a date with the Los Angeles Kings, who hold a two-point lead over the Oilers for home-ice advantage in their upcoming first-round matchup.
Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.
See more0
0
1
0