The Edmonton Oilers are facing renewed scrutiny after a first-round playoff exit, and former NHL defenseman P. K. Subban did not hold back in his assessment. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Subban pointed to long-standing structural flaws that continue to undermine a roster led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“I can’t bet against Connor and Leon until they lose,” Subban said. “But Edmonton has had a slight defense for years. Edmonton has been suspect in goaltending… they haven’t addressed those issues.”
The Oilers’ 2025–26 NHL season ended with a six-game loss to the Anaheim Ducks, marking their earliest exit in five years. Despite elite production from their top stars, the team again fell short when depth and structure mattered most.
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Oilers’ star power masking structural issues
McDavid and Draisaitl remain among the league’s most dominant players. McDavid led the NHL with 138 points, while Draisaitl added 97 despite missing time. In the playoffs, however, the gap between top-end talent and team depth became clear.
Edmonton struggled at five-on-five all season, finishing with a negative goal differential at even strength. That trend carried into the postseason, where offensive production dried up beyond the top line. McDavid scored just once in the series, while Draisaitl carried the scoring load.
Subban highlighted that imbalance. “You got the best player in the world and the second best player… it’s not good enough,” he said.
The issue is not talent at the top, but the lack of reliable support throughout the lineup.
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Oilers’ roster decisions under the microscope
Subban also questioned key management decisions. “How do you let Broberg and Holloway walk? I don’t get it,” he said, pointing to lost young assets that could have strengthened the roster.
The Oilers invested heavily in their defense, but the results have not matched the spending. “They got 20 or 30 million between three defensemen… these guys are underperforming,” Subban added. The team’s defensive core, including offensively gifted players like Evan Bouchard (95 points), has struggled to limit chances and protect leads.
Goaltending remains another concern, despite a shift from the previous tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard to Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry. Edmonton has cycled through options without finding consistent playoff-level performance, a gap that becomes critical in tight series.
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Now, the Oilers are at a turning point. Their core is still elite, but the margin for error is shrinking. Fixing depth, defensive structure, and roster balance is no longer optional, especially with McDavid’s two-year $25M contract acting as a short window.
Subban’s closing point cuts through the debate. “Who put this team together?” he asked. For Edmonton, that question now defines the offseason.
