Edmonton Oilers stumble again as star power fails to translate into victories are they truly built for contention or just caught in a cycle of frustration? Nick Zararis dissects the Oilers’ latest shootout loss against the Dallas Stars, spotlighting key moments from Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Jack Roslovic. The episode questions if talent alone can carry Edmonton, as weak goaltending and defensive lapses continue to haunt the squad.
Core topics include Kris Knobloch’s controversial strategy shift to low-event hockey, the lack of consistent depth scoring, and the impact of recent lineup changes. Nick Zararis explores whether Edmonton’s coaching is maximizing superstar strengths or miscasting roles, and what it will take for the Oilers to revitalize their offense and climb the NHL standings. Can the team shake off concerns or is this underwhelming start revealing deeper issues?
03:48 “Well-Rounded Hockey Team Analysis”
06:55 Oilers Struggling with Roster Transition
10:52 Edmonton Oilers: Talent Mismanagement
14:14 Oilers’ Strategic Tradeoff Explained
18:12 Oilers Struggling for High Floor
20:44 “You Are Your Record”
23:50 Team Struggles, Roslovic Shines
27:28 Oilers Struggles: Depth, Defense, Goaltending
Reality check: The Edmonton Oilers continue to underperform | What’s not working?
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15 Comments
Got no D
The team is incredibly poorly built. The Fredric signing is aging like milk, Skinner needs to go, Pickard will probably go, Nurse absolutely needs to go, Bouchard needs to get benched more often, and Howard and Savoie need more top line minutes. Knoblach not giving them minutes is ultimately what lead to losing Holloway and Broberg. Furthermore, alongside those two, Foegelle leaving as well hurt this team’s cup window long term. This isn’t sustainable and major upgrades need to be prevalent for this team to actually win. I don’t know why Knoblach doesn’t bother playing his young guys more often since they’re both projected to be playing top line minutes as they’re that good of prospect. Furthermore, I am in the opinion that scratching Nurse until he moves his no move clause is the ideal way to go until he waives it because if he plays like an anchor, he will be treated like an anchor. I wonder how much leeway Knoblach has truth be told. He obviously favors slow and unproductive veterans like Henrique and Janmark for some strange reason but once rookies make mistakes, they get benched or put into the bottom six. That shouldn’t be happening and truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually he gets let go of by the New Year if the Oilers are stuck in this rut. I honestly do like Knoblach and hope he turns it around but this frankly is baffling regarding his line changing decisions……SERIOUSLY please get rid of Skinner. He has got to go.
Nick do you play hockey perhaps we need you. Lol
The team is incredibly poorly built. The Fredric signing is aging like milk, Skinner needs to go, Pickard will probably go, Nurse absolutely needs to go, Bouchard needs to get benched more often, and Howard and Savoie need more top line minutes. Knoblach not giving them minutes is ultimately what lead to losing Holloway and Broberg. Furthermore, alongside those two, Foegelle leaving as well hurt this team’s cup window long term. This isn’t sustainable and major upgrades need to be prevalent for this team to actually win. I don’t know why Knoblach doesn’t bother playing his young guys more often since they’re both projected to be playing top line minutes as they’re that good of prospect. Furthermore, I am in the opinion that scratching Nurse until he moves his no move clause is the ideal way to go until he waives it because if he plays like an anchor, he will be treated like an anchor. I wonder how much leeway Knoblach has truth be told. He obviously favors slow and unproductive veterans like Henrique and Janmark for some strange reason but once rookies make mistakes, they get benched or put into the bottom six. That shouldn’t be happening and truth be told, I wouldn’t be surprised if eventually he gets let go of by the New Year if the Oilers are stuck in this rut. I honestly do like Knoblach and hope he turns it around but this frankly is baffling regarding his line changing decisions……SERIOUSLY please get rid of Skinner. He has got to go.
The parity point is a good one. It's clear that neither of these teams is a finished product (probably for varying reasons).
Ughhh relaxxxxx!!!! Everyone!!
Did you know that two years ago exactly this time they had a total of FIVE points? FIVE POINTS!!!! And then they went on to go to the Stanley Cup finals? Like relax people. They played a good game. Yeah there is stuff they need to work on, but they’re getting better each game in my opinion. Obviously people have built their lives around this team and made YouTube channels, etc. so they want to dissect everything but like we need positivity not these negative headlines like this 🤷🏼♀️ have a good day
1. Our goaltending is abysmal.
2. Our defense is abysmal.
3. Our offense is abysmal.
4. Our PK is abysmal.
5. Our ability to not take dumb penalties is abysmal.
6. Nurse HAS to go.
7. Frederic is completely invisible.
8. The kids get no ice time.
9. Our head coach is so overrated it's not even funy.
10. Somehow we have 16 points.
This team is heartless, lifeless & continues to make the EXACT same mistakes every game, 15 games in.
They hired the great great stan bowman. LOL Bowman wonderful human being. He stabbed Tallon in back and covered up for a pedophile.
ALWAYS NEXT YEAR !!!!!!!!!! UNLESS you get a real Goalie and dump NURSE !!!!!!!!!!
I think what we are seeing in Edmonton is unique .I've been racking my brain to find something comparable when a team in any of the major sports in history has had the two best players for 10 years who have been relatively healthy and who always had great seasons that have not won at least one championship .There is a blueprint for everyone to see in the 2020's from the two teams in Florida on how to win Stanley Cups today and The Oilers are still doing their own thing year over year and its not going to work .They might get out of the west another time before their window closes but their not mentally or physically tough enough to match those teams and my guess is that now we're about to see the Canes join the party and win a cup or two .I have no idea why they continue to stay with their goalie ,as great as their talent has been , the difference in goaltending between them and the winners has been crystal clear for years .Its a shame and a wasted generational opportunity and from everything i have seen their fans are amazing and deserve more than the heartbreak that has come the last couple of years .
Upper echelon “defender”??? Those words do NOT belong in any sentence that includes Bouchard. His defensive prowess is abysmal. His hockey IQ is low,low, low.
Skinner isn't good. He sucks. You can't depend on him.
Fire knob. He's a cancer.
Technically speaking they weren't that good last year despite all the talent they brought in YET they made it to the finals.
Oilers often not putting in full effort, not backchecking etc….. & often not in right position/Bouchard sliding away from guys in the net-front so he doesn't have to battle or get hit by a puck…. a lot of the issue may be COACH is not teaching/accountability.. but it may be the roster…. RNH was put 3rd in the shootout as the 3rd best shooter – but his shot is poor, so maybe not enough good shooters. Mangi & Roslo have been fine (20goal scorers) for their pay etc…. but bottom 6 are all in the minus…. many bad contracts: Frederic, Nurse, esp Bouchard, Campbell