The Edmonton Oilers are off to their best start in years, but The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn isn’t convinced it signals real change. In fact, his argument is that the "gap between [Connor] McDavid, [Leon] Draisaitl and [Evan] Bouchard compared to the rest of the team has never looked wider."

In a new piece, he argues Edmonton is leaning on the three superstars more than ever, and that when none of the three is on the ice at five-on-five, the Oilers have been outscored 8-3 and hold just 33 percent of the expected goals.

It’s a fair concern. The context matters, though.

Luszczyszyn mentions it but quickly brushes past the fact that three of the Oilers' top-six forwards are out with injuries. 

Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Matthew Savoie are all missing from the lineup, with Hyman expected back imminently. Those absences matter, and the gap should shrink once they return. His piece mostly treats the problem as systemic, suggesting this is a pattern the organization falls into, regardless of the coach. "This season, with Mike Babcock behind the bench coaxing more out of the rest of the roster, was supposed to be different," he writes. "The goal was to find an identity outside three of the best players in the world and to become more of a team. A deeper team that can win it all."

"There is obviously still a lot of time to make that happen," the scribe continues. Interestingly, his argument talks as though the Oilers aren't 5-0-1.

Sure, there were concerning signs in the game against the Los Angeles Kings. The second and third periods weren't Edmonton's best. Babcock and the rest of the roster will have to work through the lapses in strong play. That said, no one should ignore the fact that losing three forwards pushes others into roles they weren’t built for. Of course, the minutes without a star look rough.

It’s a small sample

It’s also only six games. An 8-3 goal differential is 11 goals. A couple of good nights from the depth group could change the picture quickly.

In Luszczyszyn's defense, not everything fixes itself when the injured players return. His numbers show the Oilers’ minutes without a star have worsened for several seasons, and the question of who fills the bottom six is still open.

If it takes some time for Hyman and others to make an impact, questions about patience will surface. So too will any decisions to move players out of roles where they are currently excelling, namely Vasily Podkolzin. 

The Oilers have found a producer there. But, if they bump him for Hyman and the result is Podkolzin taking a step back, it's less than ideal. 

The Oilers are 5-0-1 with a patchwork lineup. The real test comes when everyone is healthy. If the depth still struggles then, the criticism lands. Until then, calling this a three-man team is premature.

Is this a real problem for Edmonton, or just an injury blip?

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