The Edmonton Oilers were just two goals shy of winning the Stanley Cup Final this past season, and have somehow made their roster even better this offseason. They were able to do so by signing two top-six forwards in Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner, while also replacing defenceman Vincent Desharnais with Josh Brown.
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As if that weren’t enough, the Oilers also re-signed several of their pending free agents including Adam Henrique, Connor Brown, Mattias Janmark, and defenceman Troy Stecher. It was a masterclass from Jeff Jackson, who was serving as the interim general manager following the departure of Ken Holland.
With the improvements, the Oilers are now seen as the run-away favourites to win it all this coming season in the eyes of many. While there is still plenty of work to be done, this team should, at the very least, be one of the best in the NHL throughout the 2024-25 season, including within their division. Here is a look at how they stack up against all seven of their Pacific Division opponents.
Anaheim Ducks
- Forwards: Oilers
- Defencemen: Oilers
- Goaltending: Oilers
It’s been a long rebuilding process for the Anaheim Ducks, and while they are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel thanks to some young talent in Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, and Cutter Gauthier, they still have a ways to go before becoming a contender.
The Ducks are simply nowhere close to being on the same playing field as the Oilers, and figure to finish near the bottom of the standings once again in 2024-25. It’s a feeling Oilers fans can relate with, as they were forced to watch their team be a bottom-feeder for nearly an entire decade before finding success in recent years.
Calgary Flames
- Forwards: Oilers
- Defencemen: Oilers
- Goaltending: Oilers
Like the Ducks, the Calgary Flames are also in a rebuild, though it has only begun taking place over the last year. They also appear to already be ahead of the Ducks in several areas, as they have accumulated some very intriguing prospects who should help them get back to being a competitive team in the next few years.
Unfortunately for Flames fans, they aren’t a competitive team just yet. The 2024-25 season could prove to be a difficult one, as their forward group is very average at best, while their blue line is among the worst in the league. Goaltending is also a question mark, as presumed starter…
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