The Edmonton Oilers officially reached the halfway point of the 2024-25 season on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. A regular season dedicated to gaining a high playoff seed and staying healthy had an early wobble (0-3-0) but was followed by a long period of success.
Here are the report cards for the first half Oilers in 2024-25.
Forwards
Leon Draisaitl — 96
The prevailing wisdom suggests a player reaches his peak age 25 to 27, but at 29, Draisaitl is playing the best hockey of his career. It’s a 200-foot game that has him on a pace to score 60 goals and post a 64 percent goal share at five-on-five. Electric season. Offence was expected, the extreme outscoring that includes pristine numbers away from the captain is ploughing new ground for an elite player at his peak. Draisaitl can credibly claim to be the most valuable player in the NHL this season.
Connor McDavid — 84
The captain produced 132 points a year ago and dominated (61 percent share) at five-on-five. This year, McDavid projects to land with around 110 points, his lowest total since 2021. McDavid’s five-on-five numbers (56 percent share) are down, with the concern coming from the minutes he’s way from Draisaitl (48 percent, via Natural Stat Trick) this season. He’s not delivering on par with a year ago but remains the best player in the game. The grade partly reflects the inevitable hot streak that would make a lower grade look foolish.
Connor Brown — 82
This is the player Ken Holland envisioned when signing Brown to that big, bonus-laden deal in 2023. His scoring (2.09 points per 60) is the best of his career and his impressive checking and forechecking was rewarded with an extended stay on the top line as the first half of the season came to a close. His 56 percent goal share at five-on-five is the best of his career as well, with only the 2018-19 campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the same range. We are seeing him at his best.
Zach Hyman — 79
He missed some time and his five-on-five points per 60 are down (1.79 this year from 2.53 in 2023-24) but Hyman is so useful it’s difficult to punish him too much. He’s outscoring (60 percent) but just OK (50 percent) without McDavid. On a team with two superstars who are impact players at the highest level, Hyman’s grit, determination and non-stop motor is a perfect fit for any role.
Vasily Podkolzin — 75
The young Russian was a late summer pickup from the Vancouver Canucks after the St. Louis Blues offer sheets sent the Oilers looking for solutions. Podkolzin earned the job alongside Draisaitl on the No. 2 line partly by playing a physical game (he leads the team by a wide margin in hits per 60) and has been a solid complementary scorer and a legit contributor to outscoring. There are times when a change of scenery gives a player another chance, and in this case, Podkolzin has taken full advantage of the opportunity.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — 72
The aging process appeared to be in full erosion mode for much of Nugent-Hopkins’ first half of the season. He wasn’t getting to pucks and when he did the impact was minimal compared to his brilliant past. In recent games, the Nuge of old has returned. He remains shy at five-on-five offence and has lost a couple of ticks in goal percentage in the discipline and that’s a concern. Nugent-Hopkins reminded everyone of what he is during the recent game against the Boston Bruins. His sublime pass to McDavid for a breakaway goal in that game (which included a brilliant Stuart Skinner save to begin the sequence) belongs in the Louvre.
Viktor Arvidsson — 69
A slow start and an injury meant Arvidsson had the look of a bad free-agent signing early in the season. He has recovered with strong play across the board in recent games. Part of Arvidsson’s appeal comes in an exceptional string of seasons outscoring opponents five-on-five. In all but one season Arvidsson has been over 50 percent and this season he’s approaching 60 percent. When healthy, he’s a quality NHL player. His offence is coming on now.
Mattias Janmark — 68
The veteran is a solid penalty killer, scores points at a reasonable third-line rate (1.41 points per 60 this season) and plays an underrated physical game. He was especially effective with Adam Henrique at five-on-five before a recent line shuffle and is part of a solid PK unit with Brown so far this season. The coaching staff has taken advantage of Janmark’s utility in the first half, playing him on the wing and at centre. All of his numbers are depressed compared to other Oilers due to very little time with McDavid and Draisaitl. This is a quality player.
Corey Perry — 65
Perry should get an “A” for showing up for an NHL practice every day at age 39 (40 in May). He has delivered some impressive games but is also fading as an offensive player. His five-on-five points per 60 is off. It’s possible the organization scratches him more in the second half of the season. That said, he’s willing to drop the gloves, makes intelligent plays all over the ice and has incredible creativity with the puck in the offensive zone.
Kasperi Kapanen — 63
Picked up on waivers midway through the first half, Kapanen has proven to be an astute pickup by general manager Stan Bowman. He’s scoring well in limited minutes and has been a bit unlucky as an outscorer so far with Edmonton. The forward plays an aggressive game, has some utility and has filled a badly needed depth role on Edmonton’s right wing. He ranks third in hits per 60 since arriving in Edmonton.
Jeff Skinner — 60
Skinner spent much of the first half of the season out of favour with the coaching staff but closed the gap recently. His offence is a little below last year, but the big issue so far this season involves outscoring. Skinner has been a drag on five-on-five scoring (under 40 percent) while the rest of the roster flourished. That total has improved since Dec. 1 (54 percent before the Pittsburgh game) and his playing time has increased, with the offence (2.34 points per 60) also improving (both numbers five-on-five) in that period. The Oilers should expect improved overall results in the second half.
Adam Henrique — 55
The only marks below 60 percent among the forwards land on the third- and fourth-line centres. In the case of Henrique, his year-over-year scoring at five-on-five is poor and he’s been running luck as an outscorer in the discipline (the gap between actual goal share and expected goal share). At five-on-five, his offence has improved recently but remains his worst points per 60 in a dozen years, and the expected goal share (47 percent) may be a harbinger of bad things to come. His grade benefited from a strong PK run since Dec. 1.
Derek Ryan — 50
The only Oilers forward close to a failing grade, Ryan is one of the smartest players in the league but is close to the end of the line as an NHL player. He has played in some bad luck (46 percent expected goals five-on-five, 38 percent actual share) but it’s also true that his skills have eroded. He has lost PK work and has added healthy scratches as the first half of the season rolled along. Ryan squeezed everything possible out of his career.
Drake Caggiula and Noah Philp didn’t play enough to receive a grade.
Defence
Mattias Ekholm — 91
The veteran defenceman remains a marvel on defence for the Oilers. He’s 34, and entering the Thursday night game against the Penguins was the owner of a 64 percent goal share at five-on-five since arriving in Edmonton. He’s also increasing his percentage of ice time versus elites. Ekholm benefits from playing with Evan Bouchard, but the young puck-mover also gains from the partnership. So far this season, the tandem is 57 percent goal share five-on-five together, Ekholm at 60 percent without Bouchard. The Oilers will be looking for another veteran defenceman at this year’s deadline, and can only hope to acquire someone close to Ekholm in terms of impact. In recent days, though, Ekholm has shown some signs of buckling under the workload and that will be a concern moving forward.
Darnell Nurse — 84
The veteran got a late start to the preseason and looked behind for a time, but has been playing some of the best hockey through the halfway point of the schedule. Nurse is playing a confident game, benefitting from the influence of Paul Coffey. The results have been exceptional. When he’s on the ice at five-on-five, Edmonton owns a 55 percent goal share at five-on-five. Without Nurse this season, Edmonton is at 52 percent. He’s playing big minutes, although less against elites, and is full value for the accolades received in 2024-25.
Evan Bouchard — 77
Fans have been disenchanted with Bouchard’s error rate this season. The young defender has experienced a steep increase in time on ice versus elites. He hasn’t always handled it well (specifically passing errors seem to be either more plentiful or impact negatively more often) but his five-on-five goal share (and expected goal share) remains well above average. He’s a young player settling into a star role, and there have been growing pains. That isn’t an unusual issue and he should be able to correct it in the second half. Bouchard remains an impact offensive player and should deliver more offence on the power play in the second half. For the first time in his pro career, getting pucks through the point is a problem.
Brett Kulak — 77
Among all regulars this season, Kulak’s performance spike is the most impressive. Across the board, he has delivered for the Oilers, while playing the left and right side defence. He’s playing more versus elites this year and having success, and his play with Nurse on the second pair has given a major lift to the overall look of the team. The organization stood to take a lot of heat this winter if no suitable partner emerged to play with Nurse (it was thought Philip Broberg would be that player). Kulak stepped into the breach and saved the day.
Ty Emberson — 70
Much of Emberson’s grade comes from stellar PK work by the youngster. He’s playing big minutes in the game state and having success. At five-on-five, Emberson is getting caved by elites but performing well against the mid-level and soft parade opposition. That’s not unusual for a young player in his first full season, and the Oilers appear to have a long-term solution on defence. Considering he is a right-handed defender, that’s a valuable addition.
Troy Stecher — 64
Stecher is decidedly the sixth man on the Oilers’ defence. He has played well in the role. The coaching staff took great care to protect him from top competition in the first half (just 28 percent of his minutes came versus elites) and he didn’t get much special teams opportunity. That said, a larger role might be possible in the future, and Stecher should be more than adequate as a No. 7 defenceman after the deadline.
Travis Dermott and Josh Brown didn’t play enough to receive a grade.
Goalies
Stuart Skinner — 75
Skinner started the season slowly and took some time to recover. From Dec. 1 through the game on Tuesday versus the Boston Bruins, Skinner’s five-on-five save percentage (.932) ranked top 10 in the NHL. The only question surrounding Skinner is management’s conviction that he’s the man to trust entering the 2025 playoffs. Based on all available evidence, a goalie isn’t on the list of possible Oilers deadline acquisitions, but things can change in a hurry. His performance versus Pittsburgh on Thursday night won’t calm fans worried about the Oilers’ net.
Calvin Pickard — 75
Pickard has played well in a backup role, with his record (9-4-0) reflecting it. He played more than predicted before the season. There have been calls for an upgrade at the backup goalie position, but Pickard has played well enough to keep the job. If the Oilers make a move to upgrade on Pickard, it will be in an effort to seek cover for the possibility that Skinner struggles in the postseason.
General manager
Stan Bowman — 80
Bowman’s contribution to this year’s roster has been limited due to his late-summer arrival. However, in acquiring Podkolzin and Emberson, along with plucking Kapanen from waivers, Bowman has had a positive impact. Some fans might point to Bowman declining to match the offer sheets to Broberg and Dylan Holloway, but the die was cast before his arrival. Strictly rating moves made, he has delivered a strong first half for the organization.
Coaches
Kris Knoblauch — 92
Knoblauch is the head coach, so he gets most of the mentions but this is a team effort. Coffey, Mark Stuart, Glen Gulutzan, Dustin Schwartz, David Pelletier, Noah Segall and others involved in helping the on-ice product (George Mumford included) have had a hand in making this team successful.
This is an innovative coaching staff, a group that seems to find solutions to problems as required. The move of Kulak to the Nurse pairing, sliding Brown to the McDavid line and any number of tweaks made in the first half reflects astute coaching.
The Oilers haven’t had this kind of coaching since Craig MacTavish 20-plus years ago.
(Photo: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)
