The Edmonton Oilers’ chances of making the playoffs are dubious due to Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm’s injuries.

The Edmonton Oilers have battled back from an early-season spiral to claw their way into playoff contention, but just as momentum seemed to be on their side, adversity has returned. Injuries to key veterans Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm have placed a significant cloud over the franchise’s playoff aspirations. With the postseason fast approaching, the Oilers are suddenly faced with the daunting possibility of missing the playoffs entirely—a disastrous outcome for a team in its prime championship window.

A Fragile Resurgence

To understand the precarious nature of Edmonton’s playoff hopes, it’s important to rewind the clock. The Oilers opened the 2024–25 NHL season in historically poor fashion. A combination of inconsistent goaltending, a lack of defensive structure, and underperforming depth players led to one of the worst starts in franchise history. The firing of head coach Jay Woodcroft early in the season was a wake-up call. Since then, interim coach Glen Gulutzan helped steady the ship, and superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl began producing at elite levels once again.

Zach Hyman emerged as the team’s engine during that turnaround. With a career-high in goals already under his belt this season, Hyman provided the kind of gritty, determined presence that energized both the locker room and the fanbase. Meanwhile, Mattias Ekholm’s veteran poise and leadership solidified Edmonton’s blue line. Together, the pair were cornerstones in the team’s mid-season revival.

But now, with both players sidelined due to injuries, the team’s depth will be tested in ways it hasn’t been all year.

Hyman’s Absence: More Than Just Goals

Zach Hyman has been nothing short of spectacular this season. With 45 goals and 28 assists through 72 games, Hyman shattered expectations. What makes his performance more valuable is the way he complements McDavid on the top line. Hyman has an uncanny ability to win board battles, crash the net, and find the greasy goals when Edmonton’s skill players are bottled up. His absence creates a massive void in Edmonton’s top six and on the power play.

More than just his offense, Hyman is one of the team’s emotional leaders. His relentless forecheck and two-way play often set the tone for Edmonton’s work ethic. Without him, the Oilers risk reverting to some of the listless hockey that defined their early-season slump.

The team has tried plugging in younger wingers like Dylan Holloway and Warren Foegele into top-line minutes, but replicating Hyman’s grit and consistency is nearly impossible. Even Draisaitl acknowledged the blow in a post-game interview following the news of Hyman’s injury: “He’s the heartbeat of our forward group. Losing him, even for a few games, shifts our entire dynamic.”

Ekholm’s Injury Puts Pressure on an Already Shaky Defense

While Hyman’s loss is most visible on the scoreboard, Mattias Ekholm’s absence may be even more consequential behind the scenes. The 34-year-old defenseman brought a calming presence to Edmonton’s blueline. Acquired in a midseason trade last year, Ekholm quickly became the most reliable defender on the roster—not just in five-on-five play, but also in penalty-kill situations and in shutting down the opposition’s top scorers.

With Ekholm sidelined, Edmonton’s defense reverts to being overly reliant on Darnell Nurse, who has had a mercurial season, and Evan Bouchard, who is still developing his game defensively. Vincent Desharnais and Cody Ceci provide depth, but neither has the mobility or poise under pressure that Ekholm offers.

More worryingly, without Ekholm’s ability to eat up 23-25 minutes a night, the Oilers have to distribute ice time across a defensive unit that’s been exposed at times this year. That kind of reshuffling right before the playoffs could be disastrous.

Timing Couldn’t Be Worse

The Oilers are currently in the middle of a fierce Western Conference playoff race, with several teams—including the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, and St. Louis Blues—within striking distance. With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, every point matters.

What makes the situation even more concerning is Edmonton’s remaining schedule. Over the next two weeks, they face playoff-caliber teams like the Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, and Los Angeles Kings. Without Hyman and Ekholm, the Oilers will have to rely heavily on McDavid and Draisaitl to carry the team through this gauntlet, but even that may not be enough.

“We’ve been through tough stretches,” said McDavid. “But this one is different. These are two guys we lean on in every phase of the game. We’ve got to come together as a team now more than ever.”

Depth Players Must Rise

If there’s a silver lining to the situation, it’s that adversity often breeds opportunity. The spotlight now shifts to depth forwards like Ryan McLeod, Foegele, and Corey Perry to step up in Hyman’s absence. Similarly, the defense will need bigger contributions from Bouchard and Brett Kulak to fill the void left by Ekholm.

Goaltending also becomes critical. Stuart Skinner has been solid but not spectacular. If Edmonton has any hope of weathering this storm, they’ll need him to steal a few games down the stretch. Jack Campbell, who spent time in the AHL this season, may also be called upon if Skinner falters.

Playoff Math: A Slippery Slope

The Oilers currently hold a Wild Card spot, but with only a few points separating the sixth through tenth teams in the Western Conference, a three-game losing streak could send them tumbling out of contention. Based on projection models, Edmonton will need at least 96 points to secure a postseason berth. That means winning a majority of their remaining games—an uphill task without two of their most dependable players.

The worst-case scenario? Edmonton misses the playoffs entirely after being considered a Cup contender for much of the season. That would ignite a firestorm in Edmonton, where pressure has already begun mounting on GM Ken Holland and the team’s front office. With McDavid and Draisaitl still in their primes, failing to build a capable supporting cast around them would be viewed as organizational malpractice.

The Bigger Picture

Beyond just this season, the injuries to Hyman and Ekholm raise broader questions about the durability of Edmonton’s core. Both players are in their 30s, and while still productive, their wear and tear could become an issue in the years ahead. The Oilers have committed significant cap space to this core group, and flexibility will be limited going forward. If injuries become a recurring problem, the team’s Cup window may close faster than anticipated.

Locker Room Reaction: A Gut Punch

Inside the dressing room, the mood has shifted. Players and coaches are doing their best to remain optimistic, but the weight of the situation is palpable.

“It’s one thing to lose a guy for a game or two,” said Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. “But when you’re talking about leaders, about guys who drive the bus for us, it’s different. We know what’s at stake.”

That sentiment was echoed by head coach Glen Gulutzan, who remains hopeful but acknowledged the challenges ahead: “We’ve been punched in the mouth this season, more than once. This is another test. Do we fold, or do we find another gear? That’s what we’ll find out.”

Fan Base on Edge

In Edmonton, few things stir passion like playoff hockey. The city lives and breathes Oilers hockey, and the idea of another playoff miss would be a bitter pill to swallow. Social media has already begun buzzing with concern, and Oilers fans—who were beginning to believe in the possibility of a deep run—are once again bracing for heartbreak.

The team’s once-promising season is now teetering on a knife’s edge. Every game, every shift, every save matters more than ever.

Can They Survive?

There’s still hope. McDavid and Draisaitl remain generational talents capable of carrying the team on their backs. A hot streak from Skinner, a breakout moment from Holloway, or a timely return from Hyman or Ekholm could all serve as lifelines. But time is running out.

If the Oilers miss the playoffs, the season will go down as one of the most frustrating in franchise history. If they make it, and the veterans return in time, they could still be a dark-horse threat in the postseason.

Either way, the coming days will determine not just the fate of the 2024–25 season, but potentially the future of the Oilers’ current core.