The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025–26 NHL season talking openly about chasing their first Stanley Cup since 1990. At the Olympic break, that goal looks much further away than anyone in Edmonton hoped or expected.
Through 58 games, the Oilers sit at 28-22-8 with 64 points, good enough to stay in the Western Conference race but nowhere near the league’s elite tier. Their record, underlying defensive issues, and inconsistency against top opponents have cooled early-season optimism and raised questions about whether this group can contend as currently constructed.
Oddsmakers Have Cooled On Oilers’ Cup Chances
Early in the year, Edmonton sat among the shorter favorites on many futures boards. Recent form and defensive concerns have pushed them down the list. On comparison platform bettingtop10.com, several regulated sportsbooks now have the Oilers in the mid-tier of contenders, with odds in the +1400 range to win the Stanley Cup, reflecting skepticism that they can match up over four rounds with deeper, more complete teams.
Canadian bettors, in particular, have shown caution. Edmonton has struggled to keep the puck out of its net and has one of the weaker defensive profiles among clubs with playoff ambitions. Breakdowns in coverage, inconsistent gap control, and difficulty clearing the front of the net have forced their goaltenders to face too many high-danger chances. Until that changes, it is hard for bettors or analysts to treat them as more than an outside threat.
The looming NHL trade deadline only heightens the scrutiny. The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is set for March 6 at 3 p.m. ET, giving general manager Ken Holland and his staff a narrow window after the Olympic break to decide whether to add help on the back end, adjust around the edges, or make a more dramatic move behind the bench.
Paul Coffey’s Exit And The Gap On Defense
Much of the current conversation in Edmonton centers on former assistant coach Paul Coffey and whether a return to the bench could stabilize the Oilers’ blue line. Coffey, a Hall of Fame defenseman and former Oiler, joined the coaching staff in November 2023 and worked primarily with the defense corps. Under Kris Knoblauch, Coffey helped guide the team to back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final before the organization reshuffled its staff in the summer of 2025, moving him back into an advisory role.
Since that change, the Oilers’ defensive play has noticeably slipped. While goaltending inconsistency plays a part, their structure has not looked as sharp. Opponents have found seams through the middle of the ice, and Edmonton has allowed too many second and third opportunities around the crease. For a team built around elite offensive talent, the margin for error defensively is thin. When they do not defend cleanly, they are forced into high-scoring track meets that tend to break against them over time.
Respected Local Voices Call For Coffey’s Return
Within Edmonton, some of the most seasoned observers believe Coffey’s absence is a key factor. Longtime Oilers writer Jim Matheson, who has covered the team for decades, has publicly argued that the club should consider bringing Coffey back to the bench in some capacity. In his view, Coffey’s direct communication style and hands-on approach resonated with the defense group during his 18-month run as an assistant.
Matheson has pointed to how Oilers defensemen responded to Coffey’s teaching and how their puck movement and confidence seemed higher when he ran the blue line. He has also noted that current assistant Mark Stuart, who took over Coffey’s responsibilities with the defense while continuing to oversee the penalty kill, works tirelessly and knows the position, but the unit has not looked as cohesive since the change.
For that camp, the Olympic break represents an opportunity. With the schedule paused and an NHL roster freeze in place during the Games, the organization has space to evaluate its coaching structure. Advocates for Coffey’s return argue that reuniting him with the defense would send a clear message that management recognizes the team’s biggest weakness and is willing to adjust.
National Insiders Raise Red Flags
The push to bring Coffey back is far from unanimous. National insiders have raised concerns about how his approach would mesh with the current room and with Knoblauch’s leadership. On Sportsnet, Elliotte Friedman has suggested that Coffey’s demanding, sometimes abrasive style might not be the right fit for a group already navigating pressure and frustration.
Those questions came into sharper focus after Leon Draisaitl’s candid postgame comments following a loss to the Calgary Flames before the Olympic break. Draisaitl, usually measured with the media, hinted that some of the team’s struggles trace back to preparation and readiness issues, which many read as a subtle critique of the coaching staff. That remark sparked speculation that a stronger, more forceful voice like Coffey could be exactly what the Oilers need on the bench.
Friedman has acknowledged that Coffey brings an edge that could benefit the team, but he has also asked whether everyone involved truly wants that dynamic back, especially given how things ended last summer. Reintroducing Coffey would require the front office to admit that moving him off the bench was a mistake, a rare step for any organization that prides itself on stability.
Seravalli Sees “Strong Possibility” Of Reunion
On the other side of the debate, insider Frank Seravalli has been more bullish on the idea that Coffey could return in some form once the Olympic break ends and the roster freeze lifts. He has said there is a “very strong possibility” that Edmonton will look to Coffey to help run the defense again if results do not improve quickly.
That kind of move would not be unprecedented. Contending teams often tweak their staff midseason, especially when they believe they have a limited championship window. With Connor McDavid and Draisaitl in their primes and under intense scrutiny to deliver a championship, the Oilers face more pressure than most to ensure the details are right.
The organization has to weigh whether a bench change – either by adding Coffey or making a larger move with Knoblauch – would stabilize the team or risk further upheaval. Knoblauch has already led the group through deep playoff runs, and firing him during an Olympic break would be a drastic step. A more measured adjustment, such as reinstating Coffey in a clearly defined defensive role, could be seen as a compromise.
Olympic Break, Trade Deadline, And A Narrowing Window
The Olympic break offers the Oilers a rare chance to step back. Players have time to rest, heal, and reset. Management can study the first 58 games, assess lineup decisions, and map out the stretch run to the March 6 trade deadline.
Edmonton’s options are clear but difficult. They can ride out their current coaching staff and hope that internal adjustments and minor trade additions are enough to tighten up defensively. They can explore adding a high-end defenseman before the deadline, sacrificing futures to protect the present. Or they can decide that the voice and structure behind the bench need to change, whether that means bringing Coffey back, reassigning responsibilities, or making a more dramatic move.
What makes the situation so delicate is the franchise’s context. This core has already come close, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years and falling short against the Florida Panthers. The fan base knows this group can win at the highest level. That history both buys the staff some credibility and increases impatience when the team hovers near the playoff bubble instead of pacing the conference.
As the calendar marches toward March 6, the Oilers cannot escape one reality: the window with McDavid and Draisaitl will not stay wide open forever. How they use the Olympic break and the days leading up to the trade deadline – including whether Paul Coffey is part of the equation again – will shape not only their 2025–26 season, but the narrative around this era of Oilers hockey.
