The Edmonton Oilers are facing turbulence again. Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings marked their third straight defeat, dropping them to a 2-3-1 start. What was meant to be a promising road trip has quickly turned into a wake-up call. After the game, Leon Draisaitl didn’t mince words, that the team isn’t generating enough offence, and he’s taking part of the blame.
Can Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers Find Their Game Again?
“Not creating enough offence … It’s certainly not for a lack of effort,” Draisaitl admitted to reporters. “It’s tough going right now. It’s not easy…The game changes when your top guys are feeling it … Just have to take a look in the mirror and figure something out to be better,” he added.
His honesty struck a chord. Edmonton, known for its electric offense, suddenly looks muted. Through six games, the Oilers have only managed 15 goals, a number that puts them near the bottom of the league.
Against Detroit, they mustered just 18 shots on goal and went 0-for-1 on the power play. For a team featuring Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, that’s nowhere near the standard.
Draisaitl did find the net once in the loss, scoring his fourth of the season, but even that felt hollow. Earlier, he’d lost control of the puck on a breakaway that could’ve tied the game. It was a moment symbolic of how close, yet far, the Oilers seem to be right now.
Analyst Sid noted that defenceman Darnell Nurse has just a 30 xG% at 5v5 through the first six games, with the Oilers being out-chanced 8-21 in high-danger situations when he’s on the ice. His puck movement and shot selection have reportedly been part of the team’s offensive stagnation.
The defensive issues have only been amplified by shaky goaltending. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard haven’t provided the timely saves Edmonton needs. Aside from Skinner’s shutout against the Rangers, the Oilers’ crease remains unpredictable, which is a recurring storyline in recent seasons.
Knoblauch and Draisaitl Urge Patience
Head coach Kris Knoblauch is trying to keep things steady. Following the latest loss, he said confidence and sharpness are what’s missing. “When the guys get some confidence and feel better about their games, we’ll execute those plays and get some momentum,” Knoblauch noted.
Still, Draisaitl isn’t shying away from urgency. “We’re just not scoring enough,” he said. “We’re playing fine defensively. You’re not going to win many games when you score one or two goals.”
Even McDavid echoed similar frustration, saying the group feels “a little out of sync.” The captain leads the team in assists but has yet to score a goal this season, another sign that the top line hasn’t quite clicked.
Injuries have played their part. Missing top-line winger Zach Hyman and defenceman Jake Walman have hurt the team’s rhythm, leaving Draisaitl and McDavid with heavy minutes, often over 23 per game.
That workload might catch up to them as the season wears on, especially in a year when expectations are sky-high. Still, Draisaitl remains composed. “We’ve played an awful lot of hockey the last three years, four years. Not a lot of break. Not a lot of rest time,” he said.
“There comes a time where maybe it catches up to you a little bit. But there’s another team that went through the same thing. We’ve got to find a way to push through it, just take a look in the mirror and just be better,” he added.
With a matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday, Edmonton has a chance to reset. This team can still find its rhythm, but it starts with accountability and execution.
