Three Oilers feeling most pressure prior to season-opener against Calgary

Even under normal circumstances, the goal position is inherently stressful, given its the last line of defence. Throw in a must-win attitude for the Oilers after two Finals losses and a contract year, and you have a 'pressure-cooker' situation for Stuart Skinner primarily.

Edmonton hired a new goalie coach in Peter Aubry, hoping a his techniques, approach and fresh voice could kick-start his game. Should Skinner underperform in 2025-26, Edmonton may choose not to extend him when his contract expires July 1, 2026.

The other player to feel the heat is defenseman Darnell Nurse, who's already under pressure because of his poor performances in the postseason. Nurse had a minus 14 goal plus/minus at 5-on-5 when he was on the ice for the Oilers in their last three playoff runs, a stark contrast to the team's plus-23 differential when Darnell was not on the ice.

When you add to his playoff ineffectiveness an 8-year contract with a $9.25M cap hit, and you have a must-win scenario for Nurse; or, should the Oilers not have a good year, then he must put-up career numbers to avoid getting lambasted from the media and fans alike.

Finally, Trent Frederic possesses the tools that coaches love: speed, size, physicality, and the ability to provide some offense. From 2022-2024, his points-per-game percentage at 5v5 would've ranked 5th best on the Oilers.

In the 2025 playoffs, however, Frederic's performance was underwhelming, with only 4 points in 22 playoff games. Given that he signed a substantial 8-year, $30.8M contract ($3.85M AAV) with the Oilers in June, 2025, the expectation for him to perform this season is very high.

Given his full no-move clause for the first four seasons of his contract, Frederic needs to consistently deliver strong performances to justify the length and terms of the contract, or be considered a bust.