Edmonton Oilers Mental Toughness Is A Major Problem

Oct 24, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) passes against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2023; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) passes against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Edmonton Oilers are a talented team, there is no doubt about that. They have some of the best players in the league, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However, despite their talent, they have struggled to win games consistently. The main reason for me, is their lack of mental toughness.

This was very obvious in last night’s loss to the Minnesota Wild as they were up 3-2 heading into the third period. Then they went full Oilers and somehow ended up losing 7-4.

Edmonton Oilers Mental Toughness Is The Issue

Mental toughness is a crucial factor in any sport, and hockey is no exception. It is the ability to remain focused and composed under pressure, to bounce back from setbacks, and to stay motivated even when things are not going well. The Oilers have shown glimpses of this mental toughness in the past, but they need to make it a consistent part of their game if they want to win games.

One of the areas where the Oilers need to improve their mental toughness is in their defensive play. They have a tendency to get caught out of position, which leads to easy goals for their opponents. This is not necessarily a lack of skill, but rather a lack of focus and discipline. If they can stay focused and disciplined on defense, they will give themselves a better chance to win games.

Another area where the Oilers need to show more mental toughness is in their ability to bounce back from losses. After a tough loss, it is easy to get down on yourself and lose confidence. However, the best teams are able to put losses behind them quickly and move on to the next game. The Oilers need to develop this mentality if they want to be successful.

Last but not least, the Oilers need to show more mental toughness in their ability to hold and contain leads. Of the Edmonton Oilers 6 games so far they lead in 4 of them. This is the major problem so far this season. If this team could hold the leads there would be a lot less anxiety floating around this town.

In conclusion, the Edmonton Oilers need to play with more mental toughness if they want to win games consistently. They have the talent to be a top team in the league, but they need to develop a stronger mentality. This means staying focused and disciplined on defense, bouncing back from losses quickly, and playing with more physicality as a team. If they can do these things, they will give themselves a better chance to win games and compete for a championship.