The Edmonton Oilers’ history suggests they’ll recover, but their recent struggles are raising concerns and making fans uneasy.

The Edmonton Oilers have long been a franchise synonymous with success, boasting a rich history filled with Stanley Cup championships and legendary players like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and more recently, Connor McDavid. Their track record suggests that, despite recent setbacks, the Oilers have the capability to recover, adapt, and emerge stronger. However, as the 2025 season progresses, fans are growing increasingly uneasy. The team’s recent struggles—particularly their inconsistency and inability to find a rhythm despite a roster filled with elite talent—have started to raise concerns.

The Oilers are facing what feels like a critical moment in their history, and while there is confidence that they will find their way out of the current slump, the mounting pressure is undeniable. A franchise that has experienced great highs and painful lows is now at another crossroads. Can they recover from this midseason slump and live up to the championship aspirations that have followed them since the arrival of McDavid?

The Legacy of the Oilers: A Tradition of Recovering from Adversity

Historically, the Oilers have been a resilient franchise. From the high-flying days of the 1980s to the early 2000s, the team has faced adversity and come through it. In many ways, this legacy of bouncing back from struggles is ingrained in the fabric of the franchise. The Oilers’ ability to recover from challenging seasons, rebuild, and contend once again has been one of the key reasons why fans continue to believe in the team.

For example, after the collapse of the early 2000s—when the Oilers failed to qualify for the playoffs year after year—the franchise managed to rebuild under the leadership of general manager Kevin Lowe and other key personnel. Despite the turmoil, the Oilers eventually returned to the playoffs and made a deep run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006, a season many consider a return to form for the franchise.

That tradition of bouncing back is deeply rooted in the team’s DNA. The Oilers’ ability to recover from tough seasons and rebuild quickly has provided fans with hope through thick and thin. The arrival of McDavid in 2015 marked a new era for the Oilers, bringing renewed expectations of success. Since then, the Oilers have consistently been in the playoff conversation, and many pundits and fans alike have pointed to their combination of McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and other talented players as the core for potential Stanley Cup runs.

However, in recent seasons, the team’s inability to get over the hump—whether it’s defensive struggles, inconsistent goaltending, or key injuries—has made fans uneasy. Despite this, history shows that the Oilers tend to rise from difficult patches. Whether they can do so again this season remains to be seen, but there is no shortage of belief in the franchise’s ability to recover.

The Current State of the Oilers: A Slump That Feels Different

The Oilers have long been a team characterized by their explosive offense and world-class talent at the top of the lineup. The offensive prowess of McDavid and Draisaitl, combined with emerging stars like Evan Bouchard and Zach Hyman, made the Oilers one of the most exciting teams in the league. For the better part of the last decade, the team has maintained a playoff presence and has consistently been considered a Stanley Cup contender.

However, in the 2025 season, something feels different. Despite boasting an offense that can score with the best of them, the Oilers are struggling in ways they haven’t in recent years. The team is dealing with a multitude of issues, including defensive lapses, goaltending inconsistency, and an inability to string together wins during key stretches. These issues, coupled with a lack of mental resilience and fragile play during critical moments, have caused doubt to creep in.

1. Defensive Inconsistency: A Chronic Problem

Defensive play has been one of the most persistent issues for the Oilers in recent seasons, and it continues to be a problem in the 2025 campaign. The team has failed to establish a solid, reliable defense that can support their high-flying offense. Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard have shown flashes of brilliance but are still too inconsistent in terms of defensive zone coverage.

The Oilers’ defense has been prone to costly mistakes at inopportune times, and their inability to lock down opponents in their own zone has created a recurring issue. During their recent losing streak, the Oilers found themselves repeatedly out of position, leaving goaltender Stuart Skinner and backup Jack Campbell exposed to quality chances.

Despite acquiring players like Mattias Ekholm and Vincent Desharnais in previous seasons, the Oilers’ blue line continues to underperform. The lack of depth on the back end is glaring, and until the team can solidify their defense, their offensive brilliance will continue to be undermined. For a team with championship aspirations, this is a major cause for concern.

2. Goaltending Uncertainty: A Growing Concern

Another area that has caused unease is the uncertainty in goal. While Skinner has proven himself as a capable starter at times, he has struggled with consistency in 2025. Jack Campbell, once viewed as a reliable backup option, has also been inconsistent. The goaltending tandem has been unable to provide the stability the Oilers need in order to compete for the Cup.

Goaltending inconsistency has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the team. When the goaltender is not reliable, the defense feels the pressure to be perfect, and the forwards feel the weight of needing to score more to compensate for the lack of confidence in net. This constant cycle of uncertainty has created an atmosphere of doubt within the team.

While there are still signs that Skinner can be the answer in net for the Oilers, the lack of a clear No. 1 option has left fans and analysts questioning whether they can contend with the current goaltending situation.

3. Mental Fragility: The Oilers’ Achilles Heel?

Perhaps the most concerning issue for the Oilers is their mental resilience. In his recent comments, head coach Kris Knoblauch described the team as “fragile,” a direct admission that the Oilers are struggling to maintain composure during difficult stretches. When the Oilers fall behind or face adversity, they seem unable to rally, a sign of mental fragility that has plagued the team for years.

This fragility was evident in their recent three-game losing streak, where the Oilers seemed to unravel under pressure. They’ve often been unable to bounce back from early deficits, and even when they have managed to score, they’ve been quick to relinquish the lead. The lack of mental toughness has raised doubts about their ability to handle the grind of a long playoff run.

As talented as McDavid and Draisaitl are, their leadership alone cannot carry the Oilers through tough stretches. The team needs more players to step up, take responsibility, and help the team stay focused when things aren’t going their way.

The Concern: Are These Struggles Different?

While the Oilers have experienced slumps before and been able to recover, this current stretch feels different. The issues the team is facing—defensive struggles, goaltending instability, and mental fragility—are not new, but they appear to be more pronounced than in previous years. And with the weight of high expectations on their shoulders, the Oilers’ inability to overcome these issues has raised the stakes.

For many fans, the worry is not that the Oilers will never recover but that these problems will continue to linger, preventing them from achieving their ultimate goal: a Stanley Cup. The championship window for McDavid and Draisaitl is still open, but with each passing season, the pressure to deliver grows.

What Can the Oilers Do to Get Back on Track?

The Oilers are not in an insurmountable position, but they must address several key issues if they hope to recover from this slump and return to contender status.

1. Strengthen the Defense

The most pressing need for the Oilers is to bolster their defense. This could involve acquiring a top-four defenseman at the trade deadline or giving more responsibility to younger players like Bouchard to step up and develop into a reliable presence. Until the Oilers can solidify their defensive unit, they will continue to face struggles on a consistent basis.

2. Stabilize Goaltending

The goaltending situation needs to be addressed urgently. Whether that means a shakeup in the crease or better consistency from Skinner, the Oilers need a stable and reliable option in net. Goaltending can make or break a playoff run, and the Oilers must find that stability if they are to contend.

3. Mental Toughness and Leadership

The Oilers need to develop more mental toughness, especially during times of adversity. Kris Knoblauch’s admission about the team’s fragility is a starting point, but the Oilers need to focus on mental training and strengthening their resolve. Leaders within the team must step up to help the group stay focused and composed in high-pressure situations.