Edmonton Oilers ‘Frustrated’ but Not Finished as They Regroup, Reload and Refocus for Another Run at Stanley Cup Glory
The sting of falling just short on hockey’s grandest stage lingers deeply in Edmonton, where the Oilers’ remarkable journey to the Stanley Cup Final ended in heartbreak. With a talented core led by superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers believed this was their year. But after falling to the Florida Panthers in a hard-fought, grueling seven-game series, emotions in the locker room were raw.
“Frustrated,” was the word head coach Kris Knoblauch used to describe the prevailing mood among his players. But that frustration, he emphasized, is not about failure — it’s about unfinished business.
“Any time you get this close and don’t win, it hurts,” Knoblauch said during the team’s end-of-season media availability. “We’re proud of the effort. We’re proud of the growth. But we’re not satisfied. This group knows we can win it all, and we plan to be back.”
That conviction resonates from the front office down through the locker room. The Oilers, now a legitimate perennial contender, are pivoting quickly from mourning the loss to planning how to take the final step next season. The Stanley Cup window is wide open — but in the modern NHL, it doesn’t stay that way forever.
McDavid and Draisaitl: A Core Fueled by Hunger
Connor McDavid was stoic, but visibly emotional as he spoke about the team’s playoff run. The 2025 Hart Trophy favorite had another transcendent postseason, putting up staggering numbers and showcasing leadership that’s matured significantly. Yet he made it clear: individual accolades mean little without the Cup.
“It’s tough right now,” McDavid said. “We left it all out there. Everyone in the room gave everything they had. But we came up short, and that’s not good enough — not for us. This team wants to win. This city deserves a championship.”
Draisaitl, a pending free agent in 2026, echoed the sentiment and reaffirmed his commitment to the franchise. “This group is special. We have everything we need to win. And I believe in what we’re building here.”
Oilers GM Ken Holland — or his potential successor if the front office shifts in the coming weeks — now faces the crucial task of ensuring the team is not only preserved but enhanced. It’s not about blowing things up. It’s about strategic additions, internal development, and capitalizing on what might be the best top-two forward combination in modern NHL history.
Areas of Focus: Defense, Depth, and Decision-Making
Despite the overwhelming talent at the top, the Oilers know where they were exposed. The Panthers exploited moments of defensive vulnerability and inconsistent goaltending — not throughout the entire series, but at critical junctures.
Holland didn’t shy away from the need to reassess. “We’re proud of the group, but every offseason brings evaluation,” he said. “We need to get better. That means upgrading in areas where we fell short — especially our defensive depth and puck decisions under pressure.”
Edmonton’s blue line saw strong play from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard, but injuries, fatigue, and lapses in positioning hurt the team in key moments. The question becomes whether the Oilers will seek a shutdown defenseman in free agency or trust prospects to take the next step.
Bouchard’s emergence as one of the NHL’s elite offensive defensemen has been a huge win for the franchise, but he needs more support on the back end. Veteran options like Chris Tanev or Brady Skjei could be targets, while internal options like Philip Broberg might be thrust into more meaningful roles.
On the forward end, secondary scoring remains a challenge. Zach Hyman had a fantastic season, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins continues to be an invaluable two-way contributor. But beyond the top six, production dipped. Holland hinted that more consistent bottom-six output will be essential next year.
“There’s no question our stars drive the team,” he said. “But come playoff time, it’s often the third and fourth lines that swing series.”
Goaltending Outlook: Skinner and the Search for Stability
Goaltending is always a lightning rod for discussion in Edmonton, and this year was no exception. Stuart Skinner showed stretches of brilliance, but also moments of shakiness. Jack Campbell, whose contract looms large, remained out of the playoff equation, relegated to the AHL for much of the season.
Knoblauch defended Skinner’s effort, noting the young goaltender’s development and mental toughness. But he also didn’t rule out adding competition.
“Stu’s grown so much and gave us a chance to win a lot of games,” the coach said. “At the same time, we need to explore every avenue to improve the position.”
That could mean pursuing a veteran goalie via trade or free agency — someone capable of splitting starts and providing reliable backup in case Skinner struggles or needs rest.
Names like Cam Talbot or Laurent Brossoit have been floated as possibilities. But the Oilers have cap considerations to manage, and any addition will need to be value-conscious.
Contract Questions and the Draisaitl Domino
Beyond roster holes, Edmonton faces important contract decisions. Chief among them: what happens with Leon Draisaitl?
Though he still has one year left on his deal, the Oilers must begin extension talks this offseason. Letting him walk into unrestricted free agency would be a catastrophic failure. Locking him in, however, will likely require a substantial long-term deal north of $12 million annually.
“Leon is part of our identity,” Holland said. “We want him here long-term, and we’ll do what it takes to make that happen.”
Draisaitl, for his part, was non-committal but sounded optimistic. “That’s for later,” he said when asked about an extension. “Right now, it’s about decompressing and learning from what just happened. But I love it here.”
Additionally, the Oilers will need to resolve the futures of players like Warren Foegele, Brett Kulak, and Corey Perry. The team’s overall cap strategy will shape how aggressive they can be in filling roster gaps.
Leadership, Growth, and the Edmonton Mentality
One of the silver linings from this playoff run was the emergence of leadership throughout the roster. Veterans like Ekholm and Hyman set the tone, while younger players like Dylan Holloway and Bouchard took significant steps forward.
“You grow the most in the hardest moments,” Ekholm said. “This group went through fire. Now we know what it takes. We just have to go back and do it again — better.”
That sentiment is echoed throughout the locker room and into the city. Edmonton fans were electric throughout the playoffs, turning Rogers Place into a cauldron of sound. The relationship between team and city has never been stronger.
“It’s special here,” McDavid said. “The fans, the passion, the history. It drives us. We want to reward them with a Cup.”
While the sting of Game 7 still hangs in the air, there’s no panic in Edmonton — only purpose. This isn’t a team that caught lightning in a bottle. It’s a team built to compete, year after year, led by generational talents and surrounded by a supporting cast that believes.
Every loss is a lesson. Every setback a stepping stone. And for the Oilers, 2025 wasn’t a failure — it was a foundation.
“We’re not tearing anything down,” Knoblauch said. “We’re building. This is the start of something, not the end.”
So the mission is clear: improve, evolve, and return with even more resolve. The Oilers aren’t backing away from the pressure. They’re embracing it.
And if you ask anyone in that locker room — they’re just getting started.