Get To Know Every Edmonton Oiler Expected To Play In Round Two

(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

The Edmonton Oilers are headlined by two of the best players not only in the league now but to ever play the game. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s help, the Oilers set the record for the best power play of all time and led the NHL in scoring. Many of the names are recognizable, but their depth is much improved on years past. To get a rundown of every player we turned to the great Avry Lewis-McDougall (give him a follow on Twitter @Avry).

Forwards

Connor McDavid

The most skilled player in all of hockey. Full stop. McDavid is the first player to hit the 150-point mark since 95-96 and the first player to score more than 60 goals in a season since 2007-08. Los Angeles tried to double-team him and he still ended the series with 10 points. His speed and stick-handling ability are some of the most dangerous elements of his game.

Leon Draisaitl

The 2nd best player in the NHL. His one-timer might be the toughest shot to stop in the league even when you know it’s coming. He’s 26 and already one of the greatest postseason performers in league history. Draisaitl is 4th all-time in playoff points per game. When he’s on the Oilers top powerplay unit you’re always drawn to him. Can score from literally any part of the ice.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

The longest-tenured Oiler in year 12 of his career, he had a breakout season to remember with the first 100-point season of his career (104 points). Nugent-Hopkins is also one of the best two-way forwards on the roster and Edmonton’s all-time leader among forwards in takeaways since the stat was first tracked in 2005-06. There was a fair case to say he could have also been among the Oilers group that went to the All-Star Game in Florida. A tad bit surprising to see him not record a goal in the series vs LA, but don’t expect that to be a trend vs Vegas.

Evander Kane

Kane has battled injuries all season long and had a slow start to the postseason, but when he’s on, he’s one of the better offensive producers among the Oilers’ forward core in the postseason during his two years in Edmonton.

Zach Hyman

To say he’s fit in quite nicely in Edmonton has been a tremendous understatement. As one of Edmonton’s top six forwards, he’s put up a career-high in goals and points in his two seasons in Edmonton. Hyman’s bread and butter is getting to the front of the net and generating high-danger chances. In all situations, Hyman recorded 226 high-danger chances according to NaturalStatTrick.com this season. Another Oiler who when this series began you wanted to see a little more out of but stepped up with the massive overtime-winning goal in Game 4.

Klim Kostin

A big and strong depth forward that can chip in when called upon offensively. In 57 games in Edmonton, Kostin scored 21 points playing primarily in Edmonton’s bottom-six forward group. Kostin had a major impact on the opening round series vs LA scoring the game-winner in Game 2 and having a three-point night in the Game 6 win.

Derek Ryan

The oldest Oiler but one of the more reliable depth forwards on the roster. 13 goals on the season and has had solid chemistry playing with Ryan McLeod and Warren Fogele this season.

Ryan McLeod

Ever since being recalled from Bakersfield last season, McLeod has done enough to ensure he never goes back. He’s played mainly on the 3rd line for Edmonton for most of his tenure, he’s a trusted face on Edmonton’s penalty kill unit and at 5-on-5 play has been a very reliable depth centerman.

Nick Bjugstad

Bjugstad has been one of the better depth forward adds in the league and this postseason has been able to slot into second-line minutes for Jay Woodcroft. Bjugstad’s two-goal night in Edmonton’s 6-3 win in Game 5 easily was one of his best games in an Oiler jersey. At 6’6″ 210 pounds he’s a load to move away from the front of the goal.

Mattias Janmark

The former Golden Knight started the season in Bakersfield but since being recalled early in the season has been able to stay up in a depth centerman role. Janmark has been able to thrive as one of Edmonton’s better defensive forwards. He hasn’t played since Game 1 of Edmonton’s first-round series after blocking a shot off the inside of his right foot. Janmark is skating again in practice but there’s no confirmation yet on when he’ll return to the lineup.

Warren Foegele

The second half of the regular season was far better for Warren Foegele than the start. Foegele was another player this year who had to deal with injuries but he’s bounced back nicely in a year that saw him match his career high in goals with 13. When he moves his feet he’s one of the fastest players on the roster and has been able to showcase it on more than a few breakaway chances.

Kailer Yamamoto

He’s had a very challenging season between battling production and injuries after a career-high in goals and points in 21-22. He still does have the ability to get to the slot area and in Game 6, scored the series-winning goal for the Oilers. He has the ability to make plays and draw penalties but the Oilers will need a bit more from him vs Vegas. Despite being small, he doesn’t back down from players far bigger than him, not afraid to mix it up.

Dylan Holloway

The most likely Oilers forward called up from Bakersfield to check into Edmonton’s lineup if called upon this postseason to slot into the Oilers bottom-six. Holloway is a bigger presence that can get to the net. He’s still developing but when he was thrust onto lines with more of Edmonton’s skilled forwards, his offensive abilities were able to step up.

Defensemen

Evan Bouchard

Thriving among Edmonton’s top four defenders and has become a leader on Edmonton’s top powerplay unit with a shot from the point that has been a staple of his play. Bouchard had 10 points in the Oilers series win over LA with eight of his points coming on the powerplay, which tied the NHL record for most points in a series on the man advantage by a blueliner. When paired with Mattias Ekholm, they’re easily the best pairing on the roster. In the regular season, the pairing rarely gave up a goal.

Mattias Ekholm

No matter what situation called upon, Mattias Ekholm has been Edmonton’s most steady defender since coming over from Nashville on trade deadline day. Ekholm has improved Edmonton’s play in their own end of the ice, he’s been a physical presence and his ability to clog up shooting lanes is something you’re drawn to when you watch him play. It may have been a steep cost for the Oilers to acquire him but he’s been worth every penny for Edmonton’s front office.

Darnell Nurse

Edmonton’s highest-scoring D-man was able to have some of the workload taken off of his shoulders thanks to the arrival of Mattias Ekholm. He was trusted with some of the biggest minutes this season and he’s had an up-and-down series vs the Kings but Edmonton is going to absolutely need consistency from their longest-tenured blueliner on the backend vs Vegas. He’s a great skater and plays a physical brand of defense in his own end. Can be caught in transition from time to time but has become more responsible over the years.

Philip Broberg

Broberg continues to be a project of the Oilers organization as one of their younger defenders, he’s played limited minutes in the postseason but has looked steady in what Jay Woodcroft has given him. He’s a strong skater for his 6’3″ size.

Cody Ceci

Ceci’s 2021-22 campaign was better than his 2022-23 regular season in Edmonton, the pairing of Ceci-Nurse has been having trouble clicking, with Ceci early in the LA-Edmonton series struggling. Ceci is supposed to be the defensive stalwart on whatever pair he plays on but his lack of speed often sees him exposed.

Vincent Desharnais

A massive defenseman put on the ice to punish opposing forwards physically and move people away from the front of the goal. In his first taste of the postseason, his struggles at times have stood out and he was benched during Game 4 vs the Kings, he was able to record a couple of assists in Game 6 but with a better team in the form of the Golden Knights, limiting his minutes will be important due to his issues with footspeed.

Brett Kulak

Kulak has been fine when playing on the Oilers’ second or third pairings and is one of Edmonton’s better skaters among the defense unit. Not a player you may hear a ton about on a broadcast but reliable in multiple areas of the ice. Game 5 vs Los Angeles was one of his better games with him scoring his first playoff goal by jumping up in the play to convert on a centering pass from Ryan McLeod.

Goaltending:

Stuart Skinner

Skinner wasn’t supposed to be the goalie to lead the Oilers but he took advantage of his opportunities when Jack Campbell struggled early in the regular season. Skinner’s 29 wins set a rookie franchise record and he’s a name that is getting strong considering to rightfully be a Calder Trophy finalist. In his first trip to the postseason, he had a shaky opening-round series, but Jay Woodcroft and company have not lost faith in him at all and he’ll be the starter when this series vs Vegas begins, a great sign to see the staff and team continue to stand behind a goalie that has for the bulk of this season been one of their brightest stars. He’s tall but plays aggressively challenging plays far outside of his crease. He’s quick to get down into the butterfly and then back up to move across.

Jack Campbell

The first regular season for Jack Campbell as an Edmonton Oiler certainly was one to forget, but you have to give him credit for having a marvelous relief appearance and helping keep the Oilers in Game 4. With Edmonton down 3-0 early and starting being down 3-1 in the series, Campbell’s 27 saves on 28 shots were a major story as the Oilers would battle back to tie things up and eventually win 5-4 in overtime thanks to Zach Hyman. The starting goaltending job remains Skinner’s but if Campbell is needed again in relief he’s certainly capable enough to do the job.

**Huge stick tap to Avry Lewis-McDougall for contributing (he wrote 99% of it) on this piece. Please give him a follow @Avry on Twitter.**