What’s Really Going On With the Edmonton Oilers? Five Big

The Edmonton Oilers are back in the early-season spotlight—and not for reasons fans were hoping for at this point in the 2025-26 season. Talk shows, news reports, group chats, social feeds, etc. have all turned into mini think-tanks trying to figure out what’s going on with this team right now. Expectations were sky-high coming into the season—due to back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals—so every dip, wobble, or outright stumble feels amplified. And because Oilers fans are nothing if not passionate, a handful of questions keep bubbling up again and again.

1. Is This a Leadership Problem?

Some nights it feels like the Oilers just don’t have that steadying, rally-the-boys moment when things start sliding. Is the leadership group too quiet? Are they pressing? Or is the team simply trying to re-discover its voice after a choppy start? It’s not panic-button stuff, but the question isn’t going away either.

2. Does This Team Look Like It’s Missing Some Heart?

“Where’s the jump?” has become a common refrain. When the Oilers are dialed in, they play with swagger and urgency. When they’re not, the energy just doesn’t feel the same. Is that heart? Compete level? Or is everyone over-analyzing a rough stretch because expectations are sky-high? Depends who you ask—and you’ll get a different answer every time.

3. How Much Have the Coaching Changes Really Affected the Edmonton Oilers?

Anytime a bench changes with a new coaching staff, players need time to adjust. Fans still talk about the influence certain coaches had—the structure, the voice, the relationships. Now? There’s a different look behind the bench(e.g., no Paul Coffey or Glen Gulutzan), and people are debating whether the team’s hiccups are growing pains or warning signs. It’s probably a bit of both, honestly. With that said, though, how does any team replace a “Paul Coffey” coaching from the bench?

4. Do They Miss Corey Perry More Than Expected?

For a guy who wasn’t here long, Corey Perry left a mark, and his name keeps popping up in Oilers “hockey talk”. Clearly, his edge, experience, and well-timed agitator moments brought a little extra attitude to the lineup in Oil Country. Without him, the team feels… quieter. Does someone need to grab that role? Or is it just nostalgia kicking in early?

5. Is the D-Core Falling Short—or Just Taking the Heat?

Aside from goaltending, defense is always the lightning rod in Edmonton. Some nights they’re fine; others, the mistakes stand out like a flashing sign. Are they underperforming? Or just caught in the crossfire when things go sideways? Expectations were high going into the 2025-26 season, so every wobble feels bigger than it might actually be.

A Significant Road Trip That Might Reveal Some Answers

For now, the Oilers will continue along a seven-game road trip in Washington this evening, which might be exactly what they need. Road hockey strips things down: no distractions, no outside noise, just the team and the schedule. And maybe, by the time they’re back home playing in Oil Country, we’ll have a better sense of which of these concerns were real—and which were perhaps just early-season static.