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Targeting the missing pieces to fix the Oilers defensive struggles

The Edmonton Oilers’ off-season goal is simple: Find players who can help keep the puck out of the net. In all situations in 2025-26, the Oilers scored the sixth-most goals thanks to middle-of-the-pack five-on-five scoring and the top-rated power play. However, they leaked goals all season, allowing the sixth-most five-on-five goals and having a penalty…

Three Oilers free agents unlikely to return for the 2026-27 season

With an earlier-than-usual playoff exit, changes are inevitable for the Edmonton Oilers. Among the many decisions to be made is which of their pending unrestricted free agents they bring back next season. I recently wrote that re-signing Kasperi Kapanen is a priority, and NHL_Sid wrote about the reasons why Connor Murphy should be extended as…

Another Roadside Attraction: The Fish

As stated back on April 20 , HBIC will be using the summer to visit various cities and towns in Manitoba to document all the interesting, weird, and fun statues found in these communities while seeking out some local hockey stories as well. With me needing to head south down Highway 75 towards the Canada-US border, I thought I'd make a little detour and begin this fun project with a quick stop in Dominion City, Manitoba where we'll discover our first roadside attraction! Dominion City site...

All 12 Stanley Cup finals matchups left in play, ranked purely on narratives

You know what they say: When it comes to a hockey playoff series, all that matters is what happens on the ice. You wave away the distractions and noise and just focus on the games being played. That’s what they say, because they are fools. It’s the playoffs. It’s all about the narrative, baby. OK, I’ll acknowledge the slight possibility that my media background is shining through here, and not everyone cares about pre-built storylines quite as much as I’ve been trained to. But it’s my column, ...

NHL

Bringing Home Hardware?

While the tournament hasn't likely been on anyone's radar outside of the teams, families, and organizations playing, I have been watching the 2026 Canadian National Para Hockey Championship all week. One of the things we pledged to do on The Hockey Show was to give sledge hockey in Manitoba and, by proxy, in Canada a bigger stage, and there is no bigger tournament in Canada than the National Championship! Team Manitoba packed their gear, hopped onto an airplane, and headed for Boucherville, Qu...

NHL

How the Oilers can fix their depth by defining forward roles for 2026-27

“And just like that, it’s like everything you fear the most rushing at you all at once.” It’s a quote I recall hearing in the wake of the Edmonton Oilers Game 7 loss in 2006, and one that I’ve carried with me into my own coaching career. That Oilers team was destined for greatness, and…

Sunday Scramble: Daryl Katz and the high-stakes future of the Edmonton Oilers

Almost seven years to the day, Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz last publicly addressed the media and fans about the state of the franchise. May 7, 2019.  The Oilers had just gone through an ugly campaign where both coach Todd McLellan and general manager Peter Chiarelli were gassed mid-season. They missed the playoffs by 10…

Why the Oilers should make re-signing Connor Murphy a top priority

The Edmonton Oilers have a long list of pending free agents this summer. But among them, I would argue that Connor Murphy should be at the top of their priority list to re‑sign.  It has seemed that a second-pairing right defenceman has been on Edmonton’s wish list essentially every off-season and trade deadline since Adam…

Why the Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup window is far from closed

The dust has settled on the Edmonton Oilers’ season after another year where they don’t have a Stanley Cup to show for it. Of course, doom and gloom have shrouded the state of the organization because of it, but it’s time to put a pause on that noise. Many have been quick to say their…

Stormy Night In Philly

Never are there meteorologists talking about hurricane season in the middle of May, but the Carolina Hurricanes swept through Philadelphia tonight, destroying the hopes and dreams of the Flyers and their fans. It's been a long time since a team has opened the playoffs with two-straight playoff series wins by sweeps, but the Hurricanes have written their names alongside the handful of teams who have. The scary part is that this dominance may continue as the Hurricanes now have a pile of time to...

The Intern Diaries: Off-season antics around the Oilersnation office

Hello everyone, welcome to week three of the Intern Diaries. Just in case anyone was wondering, there are now 81 days until the Zach Hyman Celebrity Classic, which is a charity golf tournament hosted by the Hyman family in Toronto, and it’s basically just the Oilers’ Met Gala. counting down the days until the ZHCC…

Oilers silver linings as 5 players thrived in an unfulfilling 2025-26 season

The Edmonton Oilers’ 2025–26 season was definitely unfulfilled, as there will once again be no Cup-raising banner night to open next season. But there were still silver linings. The first that stands out is Connor McDavid putting up his second-best scoring season with 138 regular-season points, earning a recent Hart Trophy nomination. There were also…

Today In NHL History - Steve Yzerman

On May 9th in 1965, Stephen Gregory Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Drafted 4th overall by the Red Wings in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, the pint-sized sparkplug reignited hockey in the Motor City. In addition to his five 50+ goal seasons ('88-'91, '93) and six 100+ point seasons ('88-'93), including 155 points in 1989 (65 goals, 90 assists) a milestone surpassed only by Wayne

Today In NHL History - Schoenfeld's Yellow Sunday

On May 8th in 1988, replacement referees dressed in New Jersey Devils Cooperalls and yellow jerseys took the ice at Brendan Byrne Arena for Game 4 of the 1988 Conference Finals against the Boston Bruins when NHL officials exited in protest of a court-order injunction staying John Ziegler's suspension of Jim Schoenfeld. The one game suspension emanated from a post-game altercation between Devils

NHL

So much for rest as five Oilers head to the World Championships

In the immediate aftermath of being knocked out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round, the Edmonton Oilers leaders are doing the right things.  Connor McDavid and his wife, Lauren, are on holiday with friends, laying down their yoga mats and relaxing in Savasana. By the evening, the couple are sipping wine with the…

Exactly As Designed

Winnipeg's last remaining professional hockey team was facing elimination in Game Four on the road tonight, so the Manitoba Moose needed a big effort to keep their season going. Twice they had fought off elimination against the Milwaukee Admirals, but the Grand Rapids Griffins were an entirely different monster. The Moose took advantage of the Griffins not having played for a week in Game One, but Games Two and Three looked very much like the Western Conference's best team was ready to roll. C...

NHL

Oilers Stock Watch: 3 players whose value dropped in 2025-26

The Edmonton Oilers entered 2025-26 with high expectations following two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Final. After failing to reach 100 points in the regular season or win a single playoff round, several Oilers saw their stock plummet. In some cases, injuries played a role. Trent Frederic played through a high ankle sprain during…