Oilers Struggling Early: What’s Behind the Slow Start?

Edmonton Oilers fans know the drill. Early-season struggles aren’t unusual. For the past couple of seasons, the team has stumbled out of the gate, only to find its footing once the lines gel, the goaltending stabilizes, and Kris Knoblauch’s patient approach pays off. It’s a modus operandi: tweak a little, shuffle a bit, let the team find its flow—and then watch the playoff push come alive.

But this season? It already feels different. The hammering at home by the Dallas Stars in the home opener after a long road trip left a mark. Not just in the scoreline, but in the way the team looked on the ice. Players skating in isolation, defensive lapses stacking up, and a sense that even the stars—Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl—are not carrying the offensive load like they normally do. Fans can feel it: something isn’t quite clicking.

So, what’s behind the early-season unease? Here are three reasons this feels different.

Reason 1. The Oilers Are Having Some Goaltending Woes

Let’s be blunt: the net isn’t being protected nearly well enough. Goaltending was shaky last season at times, but even a few stellar stops could carry the team through rough patches. Right now, the Oilers don’t have that margin for error. The big saves aren’t coming consistently, and when Dallas or any of the tougher Western Conference squads put the puck on net, the defense can’t always compensate. A struggling goalie magnifies every mistake on the ice—and this season, the margin for error is paper-thin. There have been too many soft goals given up by the Oilers’ duo.

Reason 2. The Oilers’ Defensive Instability Has Become a Problem

The Oilers’ problems are far from easy to categorize. It’s not just a single bad play here or there; the blueline looks confused, overextended, and inconsistent. Miscommunications, blown coverage, and too many missed assignments make games look like a train wreck at times. Against the Stars, the gaps were glaring. It’s one thing to have a bad game. It’s another to have repeated lapses that make every shift stressful for forwards and fans alike.

Reason 3. The Oilers Need Forward Production Beyond the Stars

McDavid and Draisaitl are elite, but they can’t do it alone. Zach Hyman has played six games since returning from his injury, but he’s only registered two assists. And this year, secondary scoring is barely there. Outside of the dynamic duo, the team isn’t generating enough chances, finishing opportunities, or providing consistent support. One goal in five games for either of the superstars is telling—defenses know how to clamp down on them because the rest of the lineup isn’t threatening enough.

Now What for the Oilers?

So here’s the question every Oilers fan should be asking: if you could make one move to turn things around, what would it be? Fire or shuffle the coaching staff? Trade for a goaltender who can stabilize the crease? Scratch players to send a message?

The truth is, there’s probably no single fix. This team might need a combination of adjustments, but the early-season signals are clear: patience is still a virtue, but concern is justified. This isn’t just spin-the-wheels hockey—it’s a wake-up call.