The Edmonton Oilers are in the middle of problem-solving season and are finding some answers of late. It looks like the goaltending has settled down with the acquisitions of Tristan Jarry (just activated) and Connor Ingram (who has impressed). The defence received a major lift when Jake Walman returned to the lineup Tuesday night versus the Nashville Predators.
Even the team’s depth lines are showing promise. Veteran forward Jack Roslovic has been moved to centre and is playing with rookie wingers Ike Howard and Matt Savoie. The line hasn’t cashed yet, but has had some great looks. In Chicago on Monday, the fourth line (Trent Frederic, Curtis Lazar and Mattias Janmark) had several high-danger chances.
One problem that hasn’t been solved surrounds the team’s ability to match a rugged opponent’s offsetting style. It was a major problem in last year’s Stanley Cup Final, and the Oilers have had games this season with the same kind of trouble. Aggressive forechecking and playing at the edge of the rules can upset Edmonton’s flow of play. The Florida Panthers exposed the weakness, and the rest of the league is effectively using it this year.
The prevailing wisdom is to counter a team’s playing at or outside the lines with a dose of aggression and malice. Coach Kris Knoblauch has shown a preference for actual NHL players who can move the needle in possession and outscoring. That’s an admirable quality in a coach, and if the Oilers can find enough high-skilled players to fit under the cap, it could be a winning formula. Chances are that the team is going to need another edgy winger.
Can the Oilers solve the issue internally? The Oilers have two rugged wingers who occupy the skill lines and can impact the score sheet while also helping the team at five-on-five outscoring.
PlayerPts-60Goal PctHits-60
2.75
53
11.45
1.76
57
12.57
All numbers five-on-five, via Natural Stat Trick
This will be a key part of the team’s structure come playoff time. Vasily Podkolzin and Kasperi Kapanen are a thunderous pair of wingers who currently play on the second line with impact centre Leon Draisaitl. The trio is effective and intimidating. Combined with the aggressive hitting on the wing, Draisaitl uses his stick like an oar and has been known to use it to intimidate opponents. Despite being outside the rules, it’s an accepted and productive tool for an NHL team.
The Oilers have no worry about Draisaitl or Connor McDavid, who are physical players in their own right. The worry comes from small, inexperienced wingers like Savoie, Howard and Quinn Hutson, who’s currently in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors. Depending on the playoff opponent, Knoblauch may have to fade the smaller wingers in favour of bigger men who can win battles and hit to punish. That’s playoff hockey.
Signs of life for Frederic
There are signs that winger Trent Frederic, who fits the description of a physical winger and has done the job before, has turned a corner after a season-long slump. He could be an important player for the team in the second half and into the playoffs. Since Jan. 1, there have been some positives. Frederic’s line didn’t surrender a January goal at five-on-five until Tuesday night versus the Predators, and has an expected goal share that suggests the group is headed in a better direction.
If Frederic can make enough progress and begin to post some offence, the Oilers could have a solution by playoff time. Frederic isn’t the only internal option, but he’s the one with a long-term deal, and the organization has bet heavily on him. While his maximum skating speed remains below average, via NHL Edge, he has improved in other skating metrics. He’s in the 60th percentile in 32-35 kph bursts and 58th percentile in 29-32 kph bursts.
Frederic’s long, slow climb back from a high-ankle sprain injury (and April 2025 re-injury) may be turning a corner. That should enable him to get to more plays and impact games consistently. That was a key to his success while playing with the Boston Bruins.
Hitters
Beyond Podkolzin and Kapanen, Frederic is the one forward who can bring a gritty style and play on the second or third line when completely healthy. That has high value, and is a role that men like Evander Kane and Corey Perry played for Edmonton in previous seasons.
The club does have hitters who can disrupt opponents from the fourth line, and that may be the way forward if Frederic doesn’t recover to previous levels. Connor Clattenburg leads Oilers forwards in five-on-five hits per 60 (28.75) and impressed during his first NHL stint. He lacks pro experience (he’s 20) but might be able to fill a fourth-line role down the stretch. Max Jones, 27, looked good in his earlier NHL stint while delivering 19.85 hits per 60 at five-on-five.
Tuesday night
The Oilers lost in overtime to the Predators, with Podkolzin and Kapanen once again doing great work with Draisaitl. The line is having a tremendous run and can play against any style. It’s the best power trio in the NHL currently, and added to the skill and brilliance of the McDavid line, the Oilers can play half the game at five-on-five with two exceptional trios.
The third line is rock solid with Roslovic at centre looking good, but it doesn’t thrive against a physically punishing team. Ideally, Frederic will emerge as a strong option against a rugged opponent, but that’s not certain. He’s making progress, though.
The deadline
If the Oilers can find a winger who can run with skill and deliver something close to the numbers Podkolzin and Kapanen are delivering (above), this area of the roster should fall into place.
General manager Stan Bowman may be forced to make a deadline deal. After acquiring Frederic last year, the problem should have been solved. So Bowman may wait until the last minute to make a move, hoping Frederic recovers his previous form.
He found two useful players of this type via trade (Podkolzin) and the waiver wire (Kapanen) at low prices, and followed up by paying in full for Frederic. Heading toward the deadline, Bowman may want to tinker at the low end of the talent pool again.
