The Edmonton Oilers are once again stuck in a sluggish start, a place this team has found itself far too often in recent years. After a summer full of turnover — new voices behind the bench, fresh faces in the lineup, and the emotional hangover of another deep playoff run — you could see this coming. Even with expectations sky-high, the Oilers look like a group still trying to rediscover the rhythm that carried them through the spring.
Some of the early-season stumbles can be chalked up to chemistry that isn’t quite there yet, and injuries haven’t helped either. Zach Hyman’s absence has been especially noticeable. He was a huge part of the Oilers’ last two playoff pushes, and with his wrist finally healed after surgery, his return creates tough lineup decisions. Bringing him back means shifting players around and finding the right balance again — something Edmonton clearly needs as they try to shake off this slow start.
Ike Howard
The Oilers took a big swing in the offseason when they traded for Ike Howard, the talented but frustrated young winger coming out of Tampa Bay. On paper, it looked like the kind of move that could add scoring punch to the middle of Edmonton’s lineup. The raw skill is undeniable, and the organization clearly believed a fresh start could unlock his potential. But so far, that gamble hasn’t delivered. Through the early stretch of the season, Howard has struggled to produce only managed two goals and one assist, carrying a -2 rating and rarely looking like the offensive threat the Oilers hoped they were acquiring.
With Zach Hyman’s return around the corner, the pressure on Howard is building fast. Minutes are about to get tighter, and the coaches will have difficult choices to make as the roster reshapes itself. At this point, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Howard is the odd man out and finds himself sent down — not as a punishment, but as a chance to rediscover his game in a less demanding environment. Edmonton still believes in his upside, but belief only goes so far. The Oilers need production now, and Howard is running out of time to show he can be part of the solution.
Curtiz Lazar
Curtiz Lazar might not be the flashiest name on the roster, but he’s quietly making a strong case to stay put once Zach Hyman returns. While Ike Howard has struggled to find his footing at the NHL level, Lazar’s experience is giving him an edge. He’s been around long enough to handle the pace, the physicality, and the responsibility that comes with meaningful minutes. His reliability has stood out during a stretch where the Oilers have needed stability more than anything.
With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sidelined, the door has opened even wider for Lazar. Sliding him into a third-line centre role isn’t just a temporary patch—it actually makes sense. He’s responsible defensively, he can win draws, and he brings a workmanlike presence the Oilers could use in the middle six. If he keeps this up, Lazar may turn what was supposed to be a short-term opportunity into a permanent spot once the lineup gets healthy.
David Tomasek
Zach Hyman’s looming return is about to shake up the Oilers’ lineup, and the ripple effects will almost certainly be felt in the bottom six. Rather than tinkering with the defensive pairings, the more realistic move is trimming from the forward group, where competition has tightened. David Tomasek is one of the players now sitting squarely in the spotlight. After a great year in Europe, he arrived in Edmonton with some intrigue, flashing skill and composure during camp. But translating that success to the smaller North American ice has been a different challenge altogether.
So far this season, Tomasek hasn’t quite found the same rhythm that made him stand out overseas. The pace, the pressure, and the physicality have exposed parts of his game still adjusting to the NHL environment. With roster spots about to get even more scarce, his margin for error is shrinking fast. If the Oilers need to make a cut to make room for Hyman, Tomasek may end up being the odd man out unless he can elevate his play—and quickly.
As the Oilers wait for Hyman to get back into the mix, the team finds itself at a crossroads where every shift and every mistake carries a little more weight. Competition for lineup spots is tightening, and players on the fringe will need to show they belong if they want to avoid being the casualty of a roster crunch. Edmonton has dealt with early-season turbulence before, but how they navigate these next few weeks—both on the ice and in their roster decisions—will say a lot about where this season is headed.