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NHL insider exposes the two hidden factors ruining the Oilers from within


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Daniel Lucente
November 10, 2025  (9:59)
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Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl takes a shot on net vs. the Calgary Flames
Photo credit: NHL.com

NHL insider David Staples has revealed 22 reasons why the Oilers are so bad this year, but has zeroed in on two specific reasons: goaltending and defence.

The Edmonton Oilers took some real heat after a humiliating 9-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, and fans and insiders alike didn't hold anything back.
Having only six wins in 16 games to date, frustrations overflow as analysts pinpoint what's really ailing this team.
NHL insider David Staples identified Edmonton's problems as goaltending and defensive play. Thus far, both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have really struggled, leaving the Oilers vulnerable in their own end.
"If Skinner can't change that super fast, the Oilers will need to make a trade."

- David Staples
A lack of confidence in the crease creates a ripple effect: defenders play tight, forwards hesitate, and mistakes get compounded shift after shift.
On ice, the Oilers' defensive structure has completely fallen apart, Staples says. Players look lost inside new systems, even failing to execute, let alone communicate effectively in their zone.
"The Oilers will only get out of this funk when they figure out a way to again play championship defence."

- David Staples

The Oilers are playing completely disconnected as players appear lost on the ice

Once a team at its best when it came to tenacity and urgency during their back-to-back Stanley Cup Final runs, Edmonton looks passive and disconnected.
Opponents are consistently being left unmarked in prime scoring areas, showing the team's lack of commitment and cohesion.
It's a collapse, not just tactical, but psychological too. Without any reliable goaltending, the Oilers play with visible tension and second-guessing as they wait for mistakes to unravel them.
Calls are getting louder for change both in net and behind the bench as patience wears thin.
For a team built around superstars in their prime, this start has become a crisis point. If Edmonton doesn't find solutions in goal and rediscover its defensive identity soon, the season could slip away before December arrives.
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NOVEMBRE 10   |   213 ANSWERS
NHL insider exposes the two hidden factors ruining the Oilers from within

Are goaltending and defence the two main reasons why the Oilers are doing so poorly this year?


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