How Deep Is the Tension on the Edmonton Oilers?
Leon Draisaitl just spoke up after Edmonton’s 4-3 loss to Calgary, and it’s the kind of honesty you don’t always hear from NHL stars. A week ago, Tristan Jarry called out the team for not backing him up in net, and now Draisaitl is making it clear: it’s a two-way street.
While Draisaitl Isn’t Throwing Jarry Under the Bus, He’s Also Honestly Frustrated.
He’s not throwing anyone under the bus, but he’s also not hiding the problems. The message is simple—Jarry can’t keep bailing them out every night. He’s stopping pucks, sure, but the guys in front of him need to do their part, too. Lapses on defence, inconsistent penalty kills, and sloppy moments have all piled up, and the Oilers are feeling the consequences. But Jarry, too, has to step up and make a save.
And there’s more than just mistakes on the ice. The vibe in the locker room is tense, and you can see why. Losing streaks stack up, and after two tough playoff exits—most recently against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final—you can bet Draisaitl is questioning whether this team is really ready for the next step in the postseason. Confidence isn’t something you can fake, and right now, it’s a bit thin in Edmonton.
Unless They Hit an Iceberg, the Oilers Will Make the Playoffs.
Still, the Oilers should make the playoffs unless everything falls apart completely. But the bigger worry isn’t the standings—it’s the chemistry. Draisaitl’s comments are about more than defence or penalties. They’re about accountability, everyone stepping up, and making sure the team actually plays like a unit. When a team is loaded with talent like this one, it’s frustrating to watch little things keep holding them back. Draisaitl sees it, and he’s not afraid to call it out.
There Is Clearly Tension on the Oilers. Not What?
Clearly, there’s tension brewing. You can practically feel it under the surface. Edmonton has all the pieces to compete, but if they don’t clean up the defensive play and start playing in sync, another promising season could slip away early. The playoffs are coming fast, and the Oilers need to figure it out before it’s too late. Chemistry might not show up on the stat sheet, but it can make or break a season. Right now, that’s precisely what Edmonton is missing—and fast.