The 2025-26 NHL regular season has officially ended and the Edmonton Oilers are set to face the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The matchup should prove to be a compelling and competitive series between the established and star led Oilers and the young, up and coming Ducks.
Last season during the playoffs, young winger Vasily Podkolzin quickly propelled himself into being a key member of the team upfront. He established strong chemistry with star Leon Draisaitl and showed he was capable of being a complimentary and productive top-six piece.
So, who could be that for the Oilers this year? There are injury questions surrounding the Oilers that leaves their line combinations up for debate.
Matt Savoie
The second-half of this rookie campaign for Matt Savoie has been very good. Heading into the Olympic break in February, Savoie had scored nine goals and nine assists for 18 points in 58 games. Since returning from the break, he has been on fire scoring nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points in 24 games. This includes him scoring a hattrick in the final game against the Vancouver Canucks.
Savoie has shown throughout his hockey career that he is an incredibly talented player and him being able to find his way in the latter half of this season just proves that. He is more than capable of being a valuable piece for the Oilers moving forward. If he can carry the momentum he has now onward through the Spring and into the playoffs, he could help provide enough secondary offence to help move the Oilers back to the Stanley Cup Finals once again.
Trent Frederic
It is no secret that Trent Frederic has been a disappointing acquisition for the Oilers so far. Originally acquired at last year's trade deadline, Frederic was fairly quickly given a massive eight-year extension this past offseason for $3.85 million per season.
As an Oiler this season, Frederic recorded seven points (four goals, three assists) in 74 games, while averaging nearly 11 minutes per game. However, he is still only two years removed from a 40 point campaign in Boston, which leads me to believe that there is scoring touch there.
If he is given an opportunity to be a checking winger inside the top nine, he has the potential to win over many Oilers fans if he can score at an improved rate. He has shown chemistry with Connor McDavid in limited usage beside him, something that if given the opportunity, should be explored further.
Colton Dach
One of the Oilers deadline acquisitions this year and a big part of a video that received criticism from the fanbase, Colton Dach is an interesting addition. In eight games with the Oilers this season he has four points (two goals, two assists), hinting at some legitimate scoring potential.
Although originally believed to be a depth checking winger, he has been able to carve out a role within the Oilers bottom-six. He is another player that could be able to provide secondary scoring, something that is always important in the playoffs when the games get tighter.
At only 23 years old, Dach has the chance to be a great injection of youth this year and beyond but if he can step up in the playoffs this year, he could set himself up for an increased role next season.
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