Oilers Roster Primed for Stanley Cup Playoff Push

McDavid, Bouchard, Ingram look to put Edmonton over the top

Apr. 17, 2026 at 5:37am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the intense action of a hockey game, with players, sticks, pucks, and arena details fractured into sharp, overlapping planes of vibrant blue, orange, and green colors.The Edmonton Oilers' star-studded roster looks primed for a deep playoff run, with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard leading the charge.St. Louis Today

The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs looking to return to the Stanley Cup Final for the third consecutive season. The Oilers (41-30-11) lost to the Florida Panthers in the Final the past two seasons, and they finished second in the Pacific Division this year.

Why it matters

The Oilers have been knocking on the door of a championship, and this could be the year they finally break through. With superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, and a strong supporting cast, Edmonton has the talent to win it all. However, they'll need to overcome past playoff disappointments and stay healthy to make a deep run.

The details

The Oilers made some key midseason trades to bolster their roster, acquiring forwards Colton Dach and Jason Dickinson from the Blackhawks. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm has also been a valuable addition since being acquired last year. The team is hoping for a full recovery from Draisaitl's late-season injury, and Connor Ingram has emerged as the starting goaltender after the Oilers traded for Tristan Jarry.

  • The Oilers finished the regular season on April 8.
  • Draisaitl missed the last 14 games of the season due to a lower-body injury, but is expected back for the playoffs.
  • Dickinson sustained a lower-body injury blocking a shot on April 8 and there is no timeline for his return.

The players

Connor McDavid

One of the best offensive players in the history of the NHL, the 29-year-old won his sixth Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer this season with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) in 82 games. McDavid has won the Hart Trophy as the most valuable player to his team three times and the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player four times.

Leon Draisaitl

The highest-scoring German-born player in NHL history, the 30-year-old is in his 12th season. He was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and won the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award in 2020. Draisaitl had 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 65 games this season before sustaining a lower-body injury.

Evan Bouchard

The best offensive defenseman Edmonton has had since Paul Coffey. Bouchard led all NHL defensemen in scoring this season with 95 points (21 goals, 74 assists) in 82 games and should earn consideration for the Norris Trophy.

Connor Ingram

The 29-year-old was acquired in a trade from the Utah Mammoth to give Edmonton goaltending depth and has emerged as the No. 1 goaltender. Ingram was 16-10-3 in 32 games (30 starts) with a 2.60 goals against average and .899 save percentage.

Tristan Jarry

Acquired in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 30-year-old was expected to take over the No. 1 role but has been relegated to a backup role behind Ingram after sustaining a lower-body injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.