4 Oilers with the Most to Prove in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Edmonton Oilers

There is no team in the NHL facing more pressure this coming season than the Edmonton Oilers. Not only is their captain in Connor McDavid entering the first year of his two-year contract extension, but they have plenty to prove after a disappointing 2025-26 season.

To the credit of Oilers management, they were able to make plenty of changes – including moving out Darnell Nurse’s full salary – which should allow for them to be a more competitive group this coming season. That said, it’s Stanley Cup or bust once again for this group, and in order for that to happen, they are going to need everybody at their absolute best. With that said, here are the four Oilers players facing the most pressure entering the 2026-27 campaign.

Connor McDavid

Anybody who blames McDavid for not yet having won a Stanley Cup is in the wrong. Time after time, management has let down the world’s greatest player by not giving him a strong enough supporting cast to win it all. And, despite the lack of support, he’s still been able to carry them to two Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025.

While McDavid can’t be faulted for the Oilers’ shortcomings, however, the fact of the matter is that he’s starting to feel the pressure of not yet winning it all. That has to be weighing on the 29-year-old each and every day, which in and of itself gives him a ton to prove this coming season. If he can finally get the job done, he will cement himself as one of the best to ever play the game.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Despite some positive changes for the Oilers this offseason, they still don’t have a great supporting cast up front. Part of that is due to the fact that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins’ game has slipped in recent seasons. He’s still managed to produce solid point totals, though plenty of that is due to the fact that he plays on the best power play unit in the NHL.

For the Oilers to win it all this coming season, Nugent-Hopkins needs to find a way to be more impactful at even strength. We’ve still seen glimpses that indicate he can be that player, but it’s up to him to prove in 2026-27 that he can still do it on a regular basis.

Trent Frederic

There wasn’t an Oilers player who disappointed more than Trent Frederic in 2025-26. After agreeing to an eight-year, $30.8 million deal last offseason, he managed just four goals and seven points in 74 regular-season games. He was healthy scratched in two of the Oilers’ six playoff games, and went pointless in the four outings in which he did suit up.

While Frederic was never expected to be a massive point producer for the Oilers, his contract indicates that he should be providing solid depth scoring. He has been able to do so in the past, and perhaps having a new voice behind the bench in Mike Babcock will help. If not, the frustration from the fan base surrounding him and his contract is going to continue to grow.

Jake Walman

The 2025-26 season wasn’t a kind one to Jake Walman, who logged just 53 regular-season games due to injury. When in the lineup, it seemed he wasn’t at 100 per cent, as he was far from his best and averaged less than 19 minutes per game in ice time.

With Nurse now out of the picture, the Oilers are going to need to rely on Walman to replace some of his heavy minutes. The biggest component will be remaining healthy, but he will also need to be much more consistent at both ends of the ice in 2026-27 to justify his seven-year, $49 million extension.

Franchise-Altering Season Ahead

While these four players have the most to prove this coming season, every player on the Oilers roster will be feeling immense pressure. If things go similarly to how they did in 2025-26, it could very well spell the end of McDavid’s time in Edmonton. That said, if they win, this fan base will feel completely vindicated following all the frustration they’ve gone through over the years.