Oilers Won’t Turn Things Around Like They Have in the Past

It’s just another slow start, right? That’s what Edmonton Oilers fans are trying to convince themselves as their team sits outside of a playoff spot at the quarter-mark of the 2025-26 season. Getting off to poor starts are nothing new for this group, which has helped ease at least some of the panic for what’s been a rough start.

David Tomasek was a bit more of a gamble, having yet to play in an NHL game before this season despite being 29 years old. With just three points through 14 games, it’s looking like he simply may be in over his head at this level, despite his success in several leagues overseas.

Oilers Thinned Themselves Out Too Much

The Oilers will still likely find a way to get into the playoffs. Any roster with McDavid and Draisaitl is hard to keep out of the postseason, as they will soon enough will this team to victories in the regular season. Doing so in the playoffs, however, is a completely different beast. They will need help at that time of the season, and right now it doesn’t look like there are many others capable of providing that support. That falls on the shoulders of management, who went far too heavy on turnover on a roster that was arguably just a goalie away from winning it all.