4 Edmonton Oilers players who surprised us the most in 2023-24
The Edmonton Oilers got it together in 2023-24 and are set for a deep playoff run, but it took more than just Connor McDavid to make it happen.
The Edmonton Oilers have done it: They are making the playoffs, and once again, fans can thank the epic but unsurprising performances of forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid, who you can argue deserves to win a Stanley Cup more than any other player at the moment, just recorded his 100th assist, a rare feat that, despite his accomplishments, is a career first.
Overall, McDavid has been the league’s best player over the past five seasons, collecting 610 points and 207 goals in 357 games. Yeah, that’s 1.71 points per game when you divide 610 by 357, and McDavid still has a lot of elite hockey left.
But again, McDavid’s performances don’t surprise anyone because we expect them to happen. That said, there are a few other Oilers players whose respective outings were beyond surprising, starting with a prolific goal-scorer.
Zach Hyman’s surprising performance fueled the Oilers as much as the top players
We already knew Zach Hyman was a great player, and there is a good chance he ends the season with fewer points than he did last year. Yet he made this list because nobody saw him scoring 50-plus goals - 54 to be exact, at the time of this writing.
Last season, Hyman scored a career-high 36 times, and he was one of the team’s top points producers. But wow, 54 goals and an 18.8 shooting percentage was arguably the most impressive feat that the team had from any one player this season, right up there with McDavid hitting the century mark in assists.
But, because Hyman was already a great player, and we at least knew he’d threaten another career-high in points production, his final goal tally may not have surprised everyone. The next impact player on this list, however, nearly doubled their points total this season in what was a shocking campaign over the past six months.
Evan Bouchard went on a scoring quest in 2023-24
Between 2021-22 and 2022-23, Evan Bouchard foreshadowed a breakout season, registering 43 and 40 points, respectively. He was also a physical presence on both sides of the ice, which granted him two-way player status. But as with Hyman’s 50-plus goal season, few would have predicted such a Norris-worthy season from Bouchard.
In his first 80 games, the blueliner averaged over a point per game, and he may not be finished just yet, as the time that this article was written came before the team’s final two games. But, 81 points and 18 goals in 80 contests, plus a solid 8.3 shooting percentage, will at least put him in the top 10 for the Norris, more likely the top five.
Bouchard’s defense was still in the upper echelon of the league, even if he isn’t setting career-highs in takeaways, hits, and blocks. His possession quality at even strength was a whopping plus-34.1, and his actual plus-minus has been a healthy plus-35.
We don’t know what Bouchard will do for an encore performance, but he won’t catch anyone off-guard next season if he repeats. Doing so is unlikely, but if Bouchard gets anywhere near what he accomplished this season, it’s nonetheless a victory.
Warren Foegele’s play skyrocketed throughout a contract year
Warren Foegele entered the 2023-24 season hoping to get a new contract with the Oilers, and while that new deal has yet to materialize, somebody out there will give him his money’s worth. We’ll know by the end of the week whether Foegele maintains his half-point per game pace, but regardless if he falls short, the 28-year-old still put together an unprecedented season.
Between Games 1 and 80, the winger had 40 points and 19 goals, and he also shattered his career-high with 190 shots on net. What’s more impressive? Foegele’s offense overall helped Edmonton score 48 goals at even strength, and his 56.1 Corsi For Percentage further backs up what he accomplished in 2023-24.
Like the other players listed, the increased offensive efficiency did not come at the expense of Foegele’s defense. No, he wasn’t as physical, but Foegele still landed 88 body checks, and he also achieved a career-high with 31 blocked shots. Add in another 38 takeaways, and it’s safe to say Foegele’s play defensively led to even more chances for the Oilers.
In 2024-25, we don’t know what uniform Foegele will find himself in, but we do know he will be a valuable asset somewhere in the league. Look for him to receive a payday and line up on someone’s middle-six.
Calvin Pickard looked like a completely different goaltender
Stuart Skinner may get most of the glory this season, but we can’t forget the effort Calvin Pickard put forth following what was supposed to be more of a timeshare between Skinner and Jack Campbell. But after five starts, it was clear Campbell had to go, and go he did, all the way to the Bakersfield Condors.
Meanwhile, Pickard took up the backup role in the net while Skinner started 56 contests as of April 15th, alongside 58 appearances. Skinner played well for the most part, but he also had ups and downs, while Pickard looked more like Laurent Brossoit in the net, posting a 0.912 save percentage, a 2.41 GAA, plus a shutout.
Pickard is an older journeyman, but he also has a lot of experience in the NHL, as shown with 116 games played and 93 career starts, but a modest 35 wins between 2014-15 and 2021-22, the latter of which saw him barely seeing ice time with the Detroit Red Wings.
But he showed flashes while in Bakersfield last season, and it parlayed into an incredible season as a backup in Edmonton. Overall, Pickard looked like a goaltender destined for the AHL with the occasional NHL call-up, but that changed thanks to his performance in Edmonton this season.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)