Whatever Happened to ex-Oiler Alex Chiasson?
Every NHL player is good. Some are incredibly good. A few are among the best in the world. Others are simply really good hockey players who find the right situation at the right time. Alex Chiasson was one of those players.
For a couple of seasons, Chiasson became one of those players Oilers fans really appreciated. If you're an Edmonton Oilers fan, you probably remember his time with the club. He arrived before the 2018-19 season on an inexpensive one-year contract with something to prove. Sometimes those signings quietly disappear. Chiasson's didn't.
Almost immediately, he found a role that suited him perfectly. He scored a career-high 22 goals and finished with 38 points in 73 games. Much of that success came on the power play, where he became a fixture around the front of the net. He wasn't there because of dazzling hands or blazing speed. He was there because he was willing to battle for position, screen goaltenders, tip pucks, and make life miserable for opposing defencemen.
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Chiasson was given a simple job, but it wasn’t one everyone could do.
Chiasson spent three seasons in Edmonton, scoring 42 goals and 78 points in 183 games. Those aren't superstar numbers, but they are the kind of numbers every good team needs from its supporting cast. Yes, playing alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl certainly helped. But it also required someone who could complement their skills, and Chiasson did exactly that.
After leaving Edmonton, his career gradually slowed. He spent time with Vancouver, had a brief stop in Detroit, accepted professional tryouts, and eventually played in the American Hockey League. That's the reality for many NHL players. As the league gets younger and faster, roles change. A player who fits perfectly one season can find opportunities much harder to come by a few years later.
Chiasson played over 600 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup.
Chiasson officially retired in January 2025 after 11 NHL seasons, 651 NHL games, and a Stanley Cup championship with the Washington Capitals in 2018. Looking back, I think Alex Chiasson is a good reminder of something we sometimes forget.
Not every successful NHL player becomes a superstar. Some carve out long, productive careers by understanding exactly who they are and embracing the role their team needs them to play.
For a few seasons in Edmonton, Alex Chiasson was exactly the player the Oilers needed. Sometimes that's more than enough to leave behind some pretty good hockey memories.