Three clear reasons the Oilers are off to a strong start

The Edmonton Oilers are the only team remaining in the NHL without a regulation loss, with a 4-0-1 record through the first 13 days of the season. Edmonton wanted and needed a good start, and they got one.

Last year the Oilers were 2-2-1 after five games and ended up being 4-5-1 through 10 games. Many different reasons have been suggested as to why the Oilers are off to a good start this year, and while some are partially true, none are the main reason they’ve yet to lose in regulation.

Some have mentioned Mike Babcock, the depth scoring or Devon Levi. Those have played a role, however, for me it is clear what the difference is: the three Oilers superstars.

Last year, through five games, Connor McDavid had seven points, all assists, Leon Draisaitl had three goals and four points, and Evan Bouchard had no points. Those three combined for three goals, 11 assists and 14 points.

This year, McDavid has three goals and 13 points, Draisaitl has three goals and nine points, and Bouchard has six goals and 12 points. The star-studded trio has a combined 12 goals, 22 assists and 34 points.

They’ve combined for nine more goals, 11 more assists and 20 more points. But it isn’t just their offence. They have been excellent defensively, and their GF-GA at five-on-five is outstanding, with Bouchard at 13-1, McDavid 11-1 and Draisaitl 9-1. When your top players are dominant, it is easier for everyone else to fill a role.

The Oilers had 13 goals for and 13 goals against through five games last season. This year they have 25 goals for and 17 goals against. They allowed 13 goals in the first two games and only four in the past three. Their defensive play has helped them, and their depth forwards have chipped in, but they had depth players score an equal number of goals last year.

Last season Andrew Mangiapane (two), Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique, Curtis Lazar, and Noah Philp combined for six goals in the first five games. This season, Kasperi Kapanen (two), Owen Michaels (two), Frederic and Alex Formenton have produced six goals. Vasily Podkolzin has five goals, which is slightly higher than the four Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had last season. Ryan Shea and Mattias Ekholm each have a goal this year, which is two more than the D-men had last season.

The main increase in offence has come off the sticks of McDavid, Bouchard and Draisaitl. These there have produced huge offensive numbers before, so I understand why some might watch their start and just think it was normal that the superstars are leading offensively, but that wasn’t the case last year. Not even remotely close to their production this season.

When your big guns are firing, any team’s chance of success increases. And not only are they lighting it up offensively, but they have been very sound defensively. Last season the Oilers started well defensively at five-on-five allowing only six goals in five goals, but they only scored six goals. Bouchard has six goals himself at five-on-five this season.

Edmonton has allowed 10 goals at five-on-five through five games, but nine of them came in their first two games. They have clearly tightened up defensively, which is great. They have received timely depth scoring. In San Jose, Josh Samanski and Isaac Howard combined to set up Ekholm for the opening goal, while Formenton scored his first as an Oiler to make it 3-0 and put the game away. The depth players have been good, and Owen Michaels has been a pleasant surprise with how reliable he’s become. He’s a go-to faceoff guy, which is extremely rare for a rookie, and he looks very comfortable in his own zone. It is good to see, but for me the play of the three superstars is the main reason the Oilers are 4-0-1.

ICE TIME DISTRIBUTION…

There was a lot of talk about giving guys more of a role, and in some ways that has occurred, but it hasn’t come at the expense of ice time for the top players. In fact, Mike Babcock and DJ Smith have relied much more on the top four D-men than last year.

2025/26

TOI

2026/27

TOI

Evan Bouchard