How Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers Were Built

The Edmonton Oilers secured their spot in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2006, clinching a 2-1 victory against the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final at Rogers Place on Sunday.

The Oilers aim for their sixth championship, with their last title win in 1990 against the Boston Bruins.

Corey Perry stands out as the only player on the Oilers’ roster with a Stanley Cup win, achieved with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

This marks Perry’s fourth Cup Final appearance in five years, previously competing with the Dallas Stars (2020), Montreal Canadiens (2021), and Tampa Bay Lightning (2022), though he lost in all three.

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Among the 23 players who have played in the postseason, 10 were drafted by Edmonton, eight were signed as free agents, and five were acquired through trades. Here’s a detailed look at how the Oilers’ roster was assembled, along with insights on the coaching staff and general manager:

FORWARDS

• Connor Brown, RW: Signed as a free agent on July 1, Brown recorded 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 71 regular-season games and added 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in 12 playoff games.
• Sam Carrick, C: Acquired from the Ducks in a three-team trade on March 6, Carrick tallied 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 16 regular-season games and 1 assist in 9 playoff games.
• Leon Draisaitl, C: Drafted No. 3 in 2014, Draisaitl notched 106 points (41 goals, 65 assists) in the regular season and 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Warren Foegele, LW: Traded from the Hurricanes on July 28, 2021, Foegele hit career highs with 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 82 regular-season games and added 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in 15 playoff games.
• Adam Henrique, C: Acquired from the Ducks in the same three-team trade on March 6, Henrique registered 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 22 regular-season games and 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 10 playoff games.
• Dylan Holloway, LW: First-round pick (No. 14) in 2020, Holloway had 9 points (6 goals, 3 assists) in 38 regular-season games and 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in 18 playoff games.
• Zach Hyman, LW: Signed on July 28, 2021, Hyman scored a career-high 54 goals and 77 points in 80 regular-season games, leading the playoffs with 14 goals (18 points) in 18 games.
• Mattias Janmark, C: Signed on July 17, 2022, Janmark posted 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 71 regular-season games and 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Evander Kane, LW: Signed on January 29, 2022, Kane accumulated 44 points (24 goals, 20 assists) in 77 regular-season games and has 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Connor McDavid, C: Drafted No. 1 in 2015, McDavid finished third in the NHL with 132 points (32 goals, 100 assists) in the regular season and leads the playoffs with 31 points (5 goals, 26 assists) in 18 games.
• Ryan McLeod, C: Second-round pick (No. 40) in 2018, McLeod had 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 81 regular-season games and 1 goal in 17 playoff games.
• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C: Drafted No. 1 in 2011, Nugent-Hopkins tallied 67 points (18 goals, 49 assists) in 80 regular-season games and 20 points (6 goals, 14 assists) in 18 playoff games, making him the longest-tenured player on the team.
• Corey Perry, RW: Signed on January 22, Perry recorded 13 points (8 goals, 5 assists) in 38 regular-season games and 1 assist in 13 playoff games.
• Derek Ryan, C: Signed on July 28, 2021, Ryan posted 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 70 regular-season games and 1 assist in 14 playoff games.

DEFENSEMEN

• Evan Bouchard: Drafted No. 10 in 2018, Bouchard set career highs with 82 points (18 goals, 64 assists) in the regular season and has 27 points (6 goals, 21 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Philip Broberg: Drafted No. 8 in 2019, Broberg contributed 2 assists in 12 regular-season games and 1 goal in 3 playoff games.
• Cody Ceci: Signed on July 28, 2021, Ceci recorded 25 points (5 goals, 20 assists) in 79 regular-season games and 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Vincent Desharnais: Drafted in the seventh round (No. 183) in 2016, Desharnais had 11 points (1 goal, 10 assists) in 78 regular-season games and 1 assist in 15 playoff games.
• Mattias Ekholm: Acquired from the Predators on February 28, 2023, Ekholm posted 45 points (11 goals, 34 assists) in 79 regular-season games and 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Brett Kulak: Acquired from the Canadiens on March 21, 2022, Kulak tallied 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) in 82 regular-season games and 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in 18 playoff games.
• Darnell Nurse: Drafted No. 7 in 2013, Nurse recorded 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 81 regular-season games and 3 assists in 18 playoff games, leading the team with 172 blocked shots.

GOALIES

• Calvin Pickard: Signed on July 17, 2022, Pickard went 12-7-1 with a 2.45 GAA, .909 save percentage, and one shutout in 23 regular-season games. He is 1-1 with a 2.21 GAA and .915 save percentage in three playoff games.
• Stuart Skinner: Drafted in the third round (No. 78) in 2017, Skinner had a 36-16-5 record with a 2.62 GAA, .905 save percentage, and two shutouts in 59 regular-season games. He is 11-5 with a 2.50 GAA and .897 save percentage in 16 playoff games.

COACHING STAFF

• Kris Knoblauch, coach: Hired on November 12 to replace Jay Woodcroft, Knoblauch led the Oilers to a 46-18-5 record after a 3-9-1 start. He previously coached the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate.
• Paul Coffey, assistant: Serving as a special adviser and assistant coach, Coffey helped improve the team’s defense significantly. The Hall of Famer won three Stanley Cups with the Oilers.
• Glen Gulutzan, assistant: Hired in May 2018, Gulutzan has previous coaching experience with the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars and was an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks.
• Mark Stuart, assistant: Hired in July 2022, Stuart previously coached at Colorado College and the University of Vermont.
• Dustin Schwartz, goaltending coach: Serving since November 2014, Schwartz was a goaltending consultant in the WHL prior to joining the Oilers.

GENERAL MANAGER

• Ken Holland: Hired on May 7, 2019, Holland has guided the Oilers to playoff appearances in each of his five seasons. He previously led the Detroit Red Wings to four Stanley Cup championships.

The Edmonton Oilers have built a formidable team through strategic drafting, impactful trades, and key free-agent signings, putting them in contention for their first Stanley Cup in over three decades.