Oil Check 10: The Edmonton Oilers cement their position in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs

The regular season may be winding down, but the Edmonton Oilers are only just heating up. With a commanding stretch of performances and a deep, confident roster, the Oilers have officially clinched their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. What once began as a turbulent campaign fraught with questions about consistency and goaltending has become a season defined by resilience, star power, and strategic brilliance.

With this playoff berth, Edmonton not only affirms its status as a perennial contender in the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era, but also sends a message to the rest of the NHL: the Oilers are not just in the dance—they intend to control the music.

A Season of Adversity—and Growth

No great team achieves success without overcoming adversity. For the Oilers, the 2024-25 regular season was a case study in learning from missteps and turning weaknesses into weapons. A rocky start to the year saw head coach Kris Knoblauch juggling defensive pairings, tweaking power-play units, and answering tough questions about team identity.

Yet the Oilers stuck to the plan.

Behind the scenes, the locker room never lost its belief. Veteran leadership, particularly from Darnell Nurse and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, played a crucial role in keeping spirits high and the mission clear. And as the year progressed, the team found its stride.

A critical turning point came in mid-January, when the Oilers rattled off a nine-game winning streak, showing the league just how dangerous they could be when everything clicked. That run catapulted them back into playoff contention and re-established Edmonton as a top-tier threat in the Western Conference.

Connor McDavid: Still the Best in the World

It almost goes without saying—but still deserves to be said—Connor McDavid continues to be the engine that drives this team. With another MVP-caliber season under his belt, McDavid has once again defied the limits of what seems possible on ice. He leads the team in points and has managed to elevate his play even further in clutch moments, including several late-game heroics that proved pivotal in securing the Oilers’ playoff berth.

McDavid’s dominance is not just in the numbers—though his stats remain jaw-dropping—it’s in the way he shapes every shift, drawing multiple defenders and opening space for teammates. Whether he’s slicing through the neutral zone with speed or orchestrating the power play from the half-wall, McDavid’s presence is nothing short of magnetic.

And perhaps most encouragingly for Oilers fans, he’s playing with a quiet fire—one that suggests he isn’t satisfied with merely making the playoffs. This is a captain chasing something much bigger.

Leon Draisaitl’s Two-Way Masterclass

If McDavid is the symphony’s crescendo, Leon Draisaitl is its heartbeat. The German superstar once again posted a season worthy of MVP consideration in its own right, providing the perfect counterbalance to McDavid’s explosiveness.

What’s stood out this year is Draisaitl’s increased commitment to the defensive end. While he still racks up power-play goals and dazzles with backhand passes, Draisaitl’s 200-foot game has reached new heights. He’s been deployed on the penalty kill more frequently and has been winning crucial faceoffs in late-game scenarios.

“He’s as complete as they come,” Knoblauch said earlier this season. “We trust him in every situation.”

Balanced Depth: The Difference-Maker

Unlike previous years where the Oilers leaned heavily on their top two lines, the 2025 version of this squad has depth that makes them especially dangerous in a playoff setting. The emergence of young forwards like Dylan Holloway and Raphael Lavoie has added bite and versatility to the bottom six.

Zach Hyman, meanwhile, continues to be one of the most underrated players in the NHL. His work ethic, forechecking tenacity, and timely scoring have made him an essential part of the Oilers’ top-six group. Paired frequently with McDavid, Hyman does the dirty work that allows superstars to shine.

Newcomer Adam Henrique, acquired at the trade deadline from Anaheim, has seamlessly slotted into the third-line center role. His veteran savvy and playoff experience may prove invaluable in the tight-checking games ahead.

And then there’s Evander Kane—a wildcard of sorts. When healthy and focused, Kane provides a physical edge that few teams can match. If he brings his A-game, he could be an X-factor in the postseason.

Defensive Reinforcements Paying Off

Much of the Oilers’ success down the stretch has stemmed from improved defensive play. After years of being labeled as offensively gifted but defensively vulnerable, Edmonton has transformed into a much more disciplined unit.

Mattias Ekholm, acquired last season, continues to anchor the blue line with his calming presence and veteran decision-making. Pairing him with Evan Bouchard has proven to be a masterstroke. Bouchard, known for his cannon of a shot and high hockey IQ, has blossomed into a top-pairing defenseman.

Cody Ceci and Brett Kulak have brought stability in key minutes, while Philip Broberg’s late-season call-up has given the Oilers additional flexibility and fresh legs.

Even more promising is the team’s commitment to backchecking and protecting the slot—areas that haunted Edmonton in past playoff exits.

The Stuart Skinner Story

Goaltending has long been the question mark hovering over Edmonton’s playoff aspirations. But this year, Stuart Skinner has put many of those doubts to rest.

After a shaky October, Skinner responded with maturity and tenacity. His save percentage climbed steadily through the season, and his ability to rebound after tough outings has impressed both fans and teammates. He may not be stealing games every night, but Skinner is giving the Oilers what they’ve long needed: stability.

Backed up by the experienced Calvin Pickard, the Oilers’ crease appears in good hands as the postseason looms.

Special Teams: Power and Precision

The Oilers’ power play remains lethal. With McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, Hyman, and Nugent-Hopkins on the top unit, opposing teams can only hope to survive Edmonton’s man advantage. At one point in the season, the Oilers were converting at nearly 32%—an absurd clip by NHL standards.

The penalty kill has also seen marked improvement, now ranking in the top 10 league-wide. Aggressive zone clears and smarter positional play have led to fewer breakdowns.

In tight playoff games where special teams often make the difference, Edmonton’s advantage cannot be overstated.

Clinching the Berth: How It Happened

The official clinching came after a decisive 4-1 win over the Seattle Kraken, capped by a shorthanded goal from Ryan McLeod and a 32-save performance from Skinner. The win was emblematic of the Oilers’ identity—fast, opportunistic, and increasingly reliable defensively.

Fans at Rogers Place erupted when the final buzzer sounded, knowing this was more than just another win. It was confirmation of the Oilers’ evolution from a top-heavy team to a well-rounded juggernaut.

What Comes Next: Playoff Matchups and Expectations

With the playoff field set, all eyes turn to potential first-round opponents. As of now, a clash with either the Vegas Golden Knights or the Los Angeles Kings seems most likely—two teams with playoff experience and physicality.

But unlike past years, the Oilers are not just hoping to survive the first round—they’re built for a deep run. And anything less than a trip to the Western Conference Final would feel like a missed opportunity.

Draisaitl summed it up best during a recent media scrum: “We’ve learned from our past. We know what it takes now. This year, it’s about finishing the job.”

Oil Country Believes

The streets of Edmonton are buzzing. Local businesses are decked in blue and orange, sports bars are booked solid for playoff watch parties, and jerseys bearing the names McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nurse are seen everywhere from downtown to the suburbs.

There’s an electricity in the air that only comes around this time of year. After decades of heartbreak, close calls, and rebuilds, the Oilers have positioned themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender once again.

And Oil Country—faithful, passionate, and fiercely loyal—is ready to ride the wave.

Final Oil Check: All Systems Go

As the playoffs approach, the Edmonton Oilers are peaking at the right time. Their stars are shining, their depth is producing, their defense is clicking, and their goaltending is steady. They’ve answered the questions, silenced the skeptics, and embraced the pressure.

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs await, and the Oilers aren’t just in them—they’re primed to take them by storm.

Buckle up. Oil Country’s ready to roll.