Oilers roster retool moves team out of last place in one critical category
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers let go of a significant amount of veteran talent this offseason, making them no longer the NHL's oldest roster.
The Oilers still have some older players on their roster this year, ranking them 7th oldest now, but last year the team's average age was the highest in the NHL - and it may have shown near the end of the season.
Edmonton Oilers no longer the oldest roster average age in NHL
With the Oilers sending out veterans like Corey Perry, Viktor Arvidsson, Evander Kane, and Jeff Skinner, the team was almost bound to get younger by default.
Heading into the playoffs this season, the Oilers' average age was at a shocking 30.4 years. The last 5 Stanley Cup rosters were all between 27.6 and 28.6 years old.
Analysts at the Oil Rig found that the Oilers roster now grades out as the 7th oldest at 29.13 years old - and that doesn't include Matthew Savoie.
The Oilers stand as the seventh oldest team in the league entering into the 2025-26 season. With a glance, teams around them on the list, with the likes of contenders Winnipeg, Vegas, Colorado, and Florida in that range this is to be expected.
- The Oil Rig
- The Oil Rig
An older roster is clearly more prone to injury and fatigue as a season wears on compared to younger players - and that may have been seen by the amount of injuries the Oilers endured at the end of last year.
Discarding some older players and bringing in injections of youth is a much-needed action from the Oilers, and should give their team an entirely different look next season.
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