The Edmonton Oilers 2023-24 regular season schedule has one big head-scratcher.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames have been a huge part of the Battle of Alberta. The most recent culmination of that rivalry was the Oilers eliminating the Flames in five games during the second round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Despite the fuel that a storied rivalry like this can bring to the NHL's audience, they have failed to capitalize on it with this upcoming regular season schedule.

Oilers Don't Play Flames in Season (or Home) Opener

The Oilers open their season against the Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver. Their next game is a home game against...the Canucks. There is a rivalry between the clubs, but it does not have the history or intensity that their provincial counterparts possess.

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Instead, the first game that the Oilers play against the Flames will be on October 29th, the Heritage Classic Outdoor Game. At least the NHL made their first game against each other an event game like an outdoor game, but they could have gone a step further.

NHL Could Have Changed the Date of the Heritage Classic

As an alternative, the NHL could have rescheduled the Heritage Classic for October 10th, the first day of the regular season. Having a Battle of Alberta game on opening day and as an outdoor game seems like a good opportunity that was lost. 

The league can't cater to every rivalry among the 32 teams. But this missed opportunity feels like a big one. Instead of the Flames and Oilers starting off the year against each other, the Oilers will face the Canucks and the Flames will play the Winnipeg Jets. It's not a terrible schedule, it just could have been better.

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