Depth scoring has become a strength recently for the Oilers |
It’s well known that the Edmonton Oilers have lacked depth scoring this season.
Connor McDavidhas been the best player in the league, as per usual, as he has 33 goals with a league-leading 92 points. If he maintains this pace, McDavid will have 50 goals and 139 points over 82 games, which would be the second-best statistical season of his career. Leon Draisaitl is on pace to have his second-best statistical season over an 82-game pace.
The Oilers have gotten more top-six scoring from players like Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. But without either McDavid or Draisaitl on the ice during five-on-five action, the Oilers have just 34.52 percent of the goal share and 43.42 percent of the expected goal share, according to Natural Stat Trick. Without the two future Hall of Famers, the Oilers have had fewer shot attempts, fewer shots on goals, and fewer high-danger opportunities.
There have been a few times where the Oilers’ depth scoring had been successful, namely in 2022-23, when the Oilers had 55.22 percent of the goal share and 52.62 percent of the expected goal share during five-on-five action without McDavid or Draisaitl. Another example is the 2025 postseason, but those two examples are the exception, not the norm. It’s why players like Ryan McLeod and Dylan Holloway have flourished since........