2 former Oilers struggling, 2 others thriving with their new teams
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
In an offseason that saw six veteran players exit from Edmonton, we check-in with four to see how they've started the 2025-26 season with their new clubs.
When the Oilers lost their second-straight Stanley Cup Finals to the Panthers, GM Stan Bowman immediately set-off to build a roster that could go the final distance and bring home a Stanley Cup.
Oilers become younger parting ways with 6 veterans
Evander Kane, Corey Perry, Connor Brown, Viktor Arvidsson, Jeff Skinner, and John Klingberg all found new teams to start the 2025-26 season.
Perhaps the biggest departure was Evander Kane to Vancouver. He was a long-time fan favourite and grinder that loved to get into the action by playing a physical game.
Unfortunately, Kane hasn't started the season the way his new team had hoped. Canucks wanted Kane to establish himself as a strong top-6 forward, but instead has quickly found himself on team's 3rd-line.
Evander has scored only a single assist in his first three games. He did, however, contribute in a way that only Nurse can, dishing-out thunderous checks in a game against his old club.
Another fan favourite to leave the Oilers this offseason was Connor Brown. Though there was some early belief he'd return to Edmonton, they could not settle on a new contract, and landed in New Jersey instead.
Unlike Kane, Brown is off to a good start, with 2 goals in his first 4 games with the Devils and a TOI of 14:54 playing on the 3rd-line with Cody Glass and rookie Arseny Gritsyuk.
When Jeff Skinner arrived in Edmonton there was hope he'd find rhythm as a top-6 forward, a role the team needed to secure.
Instead, the veteran struggled to earn coach Kris Knoblauch's trust and became a regular healthy scratch.
Instead, the veteran struggled to earn coach Kris Knoblauch's trust and became a regular healthy scratch.
Now with the San Jose Sharks, Jeff Skinner seems to have found his stride again, scoring three goals and an assist in his fist four games.
Skinner seems to have been rejuvenated this year in San Jose, getting the chance to play on the team's top-line with Macklin Celebrini and Philipp Kurashev.
Finally, Leon Draisaitl's regular winger last year, Victor Arvidsson only mustered only 27 points with Edmonton, and was even less productive in the playoffs, with only 2 points.
Arvidsson found his way to Boston in the offseason and after five games in a bottom-6 forward role, has posted only one assist with the Bruins.
TRENDING NOW
