The 2023–24 Edmonton Oilers season was the 45th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 52nd season for the organization overall, including their play in the World Hockey Association (WHA).
2023–24 Edmonton Oilers | |
---|---|
Western Conference champions | |
Division | 2nd Pacific |
Conference | 5th Western |
2023–24 record | 49–27–6 |
Home record | 28–9–4 |
Road record | 21–18–2 |
Goals for | 294 |
Goals against | 237 |
Team information | |
General manager | Ken Holland |
Coach | Jay Woodcroft (Oct. 11–Nov. 12) Kris Knoblauch (Nov. 12–Jun. 24) |
Captain | Connor McDavid |
Alternate captains | Leon Draisaitl Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Darnell Nurse |
Arena | Rogers Place |
Average attendance | 18,267[1] |
Minor league affiliate(s) | Bakersfield Condors (AHL) Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Zach Hyman (54) |
Assists | Connor McDavid (100) |
Points | Connor McDavid (132) |
Penalty minutes | Evander Kane (85) |
Plus/minus | Mattias Ekholm (+44) |
Wins | Stuart Skinner (36) |
Goals against average | Calvin Pickard (2.45) |
During the off-season, the Oilers acquired forward Connor Brown and defenceman Ben Gleason via free agency.[2][3] They also re-signed forward Mattias Janmark.[4] The team started the season poorly, going 3–9–1 before firing head coach Jay Woodcroft and replacing him with Kris Knoblauch. The team's fortunes soon experienced an eventual rejuvenation in their performance, leading to a significant rebound and ultimately achieving a record of 46 wins, 18 losses, and 5 overtime losses under the leadership of Knoblauch.[5][6] Edmonton then signed free agent Corey Perry during the season, after Perry's existing contract with the Chicago Blackhawks was terminated for misconduct.[7][8] Nearing the trade deadline, the team acquired centres Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique via a three-way trade;[9] they also acquired defenceman Troy Stecher.[10]
Throughout the duration of the regular season, the Oilers only managed to tally an abysmal 3–9–1 record in their opening games, resulting in them being in joint last place in the league standings alongside the San Jose Sharks. Consequently, the decision was made to terminate the contract of head coach Jay Woodcroft. Nevertheless, their lackluster beginning was soon eclipsed by the Oilers' remarkable achievement of a 16-game winning streak, setting a new Canadian and franchise record, which started on December 21, 2023, and ended on February 6, 2024.[11] The Oilers eventually finished the regular season with 104 points via a 49–27–6 record, which gave them second place in the Pacific Division. Moreover, team captain Connor McDavid led the team in scoring with 132 points.[12] 100 of those points were assists, making him the first NHL player in over three decades and the fourth player (alongside Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr) in NHL history to record at least 100 assists in a single NHL season, with the most recent being Wayne Gretzky dating back to the 1990–91 NHL season.[13][14] Fellow Oilers teammate Zach Hyman would net a personal-best of 54 goals and 77 points for the first time in his career.[15]
On April 5, the Oilers clinched their fifth consecutive playoff spot after a 6–2 win over the Colorado Avalanche.[16] In the first round, they eliminated the Los Angeles Kings for the third consecutive season, this time in five games.[17] In the second round, they dispatched the Vancouver Canucks in seven games.[18] In the Western Conference finals, they ousted the Dallas Stars in six games, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 2006, where they faced the Florida Panthers.[19] During the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers found themselves trailing 3-0 in the series before staging an unforeseen comeback by winning the following three games to push the series to force a seventh game. This dramatic turn of events could have potentially marked the first reverse sweep in recent memory, a feat not witnessed in the NHL since the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals. However, despite the team's valiant efforts, the Oilers were unable to sustain their momentum and ultimately succumbed to the Panthers in the crucial final game seven of the series.[20]
Although the Oilers fell short in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, they did not come away empty-handed; for his outstanding performance throughout the entire playoff and Finals run, team captain Connor McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player (MVP) of the playoffs. McDavid became the first player since Jean-Sebastien Giguere in 2003 and the sixth overall in NHL history to be bestowed with the Conn Smythe as a member of the losing team.[21]
Standings
Divisional standings
Pos | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | y – Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 44 | 279 | 223 | +56 | 109 |
2 | x – Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 49 | 27 | 6 | 39 | 294 | 237 | +57 | 104 |
3 | x – Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 37 | 256 | 215 | +41 | 99 |
4 | x – Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 34 | 267 | 245 | +22 | 98 |
5 | e – Calgary Flames | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 32 | 253 | 271 | −18 | 81 |
6 | e – Seattle Kraken | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 28 | 217 | 236 | −19 | 81 |
7 | e – Anaheim Ducks | 82 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 21 | 204 | 295 | −91 | 59 |
8 | e – San Jose Sharks | 82 | 19 | 54 | 9 | 14 | 181 | 331 | −150 | 47 |
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division
Conference standings
Pos | Div | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | RW | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CE | x – Nashville Predators | 82 | 47 | 30 | 5 | 38 | 269 | 248 | +21 | 99 |
2 | PA | x – Vegas Golden Knights | 82 | 45 | 29 | 8 | 34 | 267 | 245 | +22 | 98 |
3 | CE | e – St. Louis Blues | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 31 | 239 | 250 | −11 | 92 |
4 | CE | e – Minnesota Wild | 82 | 39 | 34 | 9 | 32 | 251 | 263 | −12 | 87 |
5 | PA | e – Calgary Flames | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 32 | 253 | 271 | −18 | 81 |
6 | PA | e – Seattle Kraken | 82 | 34 | 35 | 13 | 28 | 217 | 236 | −19 | 81 |
7 | CE | e – Arizona Coyotes | 82 | 36 | 41 | 5 | 28 | 256 | 274 | −18 | 77 |
8 | PA | e – Anaheim Ducks | 82 | 27 | 50 | 5 | 21 | 204 | 295 | −91 | 59 |
9 | CE | e – Chicago Blackhawks | 82 | 23 | 53 | 6 | 17 | 179 | 290 | −111 | 52 |
10 | PA | e – San Jose Sharks | 82 | 19 | 54 | 9 | 14 | 181 | 331 | −150 | 47 |
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot
Schedule and results
Preseason
The preseason schedule was published on June 23, 2023.[24]
2023 preseason game log: 5–2–1 (home: 3–0–1; road: 2–2–0) | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Recap |
1 | September 24 | Winnipeg | 2–1 | Edmonton | SO | Rodrigue | 17,419 | 0–0–1 | [25] |
2 | September 25 | Edmonton | 0–5 | Winnipeg | Pickard | 11,629 | 0–1–1 | [26] | |
3 | September 27 | Vancouver | 1–2 | Edmonton | OT | Skinner | 16,700 | 1–1–1 | [27] |
4 | September 29 | Edmonton | 2–1 | Calgary | OT | Campbell | 17,965 | 2–1–1 | [28] |
5 | September 30 | Edmonton | 2–5 | Vancouver | Skinner | 18,488 | 2–2–1 | [29] | |
6 | October 2 | Edmonton | 4–1 | Seattle | Campbell | 17,151 | 3–2–1 | [30] | |
7 | October 4 | Calgary | 2–7 | Edmonton | Skinner | 18,197 | 4–2–1 | [31] | |
8 | October 6 | Seattle | 1–3 | Edmonton | Campbell | 18,141 | 5–2–1 | [32] |
Regular season
The Edmonton Oilers regular season schedule was released on June 27, 2023.[33]
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Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Overtime/shootout loss (1 point) |
Playoffs
2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legend: Win Loss |
Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stuart Skinner | 59 | 57 | 3,361:21 | 36 | 16 | 5 | 147 | 2.62 | 1,553 | .905 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Calvin Pickard | 23 | 20 | 1,296:21 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 53 | 2.45 | 581 | .909 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Jack Campbell | 5 | 5 | 266:47 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4.50 | 157 | .873 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player | GP | GS | TOI | W | L | GA | GAA | SA | SV% | SO | G | A | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stuart Skinner | 23 | 23 | 1,373:20 | 14 | 9 | 56 | 2.45 | 564 | .901 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Calvin Pickard | 3 | 2 | 135:55 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2.21 | 59 | .915 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Oilers. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
Awards and honours
Awards
Player | Award | Awarded | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
Connor McDavid | NHL 1st Star of the Week (Nov. 26 – Dec. 2) | November 26, 2023 | [145] |
NHL All-Star game selection | January 4, 2024 | [146] | |
Leon Draisaitl | January 13, 2024 | [147] | |
Connor McDavid | NHL 2nd Star of the Week (Jan. 28 – Feb. 3) | January 28, 2024 | [148] |
NHL 2nd Star of the Week (Feb. 4 – Feb. 10) | February 4, 2024 | [149] | |
NHL 2nd Star of the Week (Feb. 18 – Feb. 24) | February 18, 2024 | [150] | |
NHL 2nd Star of the Month (February) | March 1, 2024 | [151] | |
NHL 3rd Star of the Week (Mar. 24 – Mar. 30) | March 24, 2024 | [152] | |
NHL 1st Star of the Week (Mar. 31 – Apr. 6) | March 31, 2024 | [153] | |
NHL 1st Star of the Month (March) | April 2, 2024 | [154] | |
Milestones
|
|
Transactions
The Oilers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2023–24 season.
Key:
† Contract is entry-level.
‡ Contract initially takes effect in the 2024-25 season.
Trades
Date | Details | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|
March 6, 2024 | To Anaheim Ducks 1st-round pick in 2024 conditional 4th-round pick in 2025 |
To Edmonton Oilers Ty Taylor Sam Carrick 7th-round pick in 2024 |
[155] |
March 6, 2024 | To Tampa Bay Lightning conditional 5th-round pick in 2025 |
To Edmonton Oilers Adam Henrique |
[155] |
March 7, 2024 | To Arizona Coyotes 4th-round pick in 2027 |
To Edmonton Oilers Troy Stecher 7th-round pick in 2024 |
[156] |
Players acquired
Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2023 | Connor Brown | Washington Capitals | 1-year | Free agency | [157] |
Drake Caggiula | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2-year | Free agency | [158] | |
Noel Hoefenmayer | Toronto Marlies (AHL) | 1-year† | Free agency | [159] | |
Lane Pederson | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2-year | Free agency | [160] | |
July 2, 2023 | Ben Gleason | Dallas Stars | 2-year | Free agency | [161] |
October 13, 2023 | Adam Erne | Detroit Red Wings | 1-year | Free agency | [162] |
October 31, 2023 | Sam Gagner | Bakersfield Condors (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [163] |
January 22, 2024 | Corey Perry | Chicago Blackhawks | 1-year | Free agency | [164] |
March 18, 2024 | Connor Ungar | Brock Badgers (U Sports) | 2-year† | Free agency | [165] |
March 21, 2024 | James Stefan | Portland Winterhawks (WHL) | 3-year† | Free agency | [166] |
Players lost
Date | Player | New team | Term | Via | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1, 2023 | Nick Bjugstad | Arizona Coyotes | 2-year | Free agency | [167] |
July 10, 2023 | Tyler Benson | Henderson Silver Knights (AHL) | 1-year | Free agency | [168] |
August 31, 2023 | Devin Shore | Seattle Kraken | 1-year | Free agency | |
November 27, 2023 | Justin Bailey | San Jose Sharks | 1-year | Free agency | |
April 27, 2024 | Brad Malone | Retirement | [169] | ||
May 22, 2024 | Seth Griffith | Bakersfield Condors (AHL) | 2-year | Free agency | [170] |
June 30, 2024 | Jack Campbell | Buyout | [171] |
Signings
Date | Player | Term | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
July 4, 2023 | Olivier Rodrigue | 1-year | [172] |
July 15, 2023 | Raphael Lavoie | 1-year | [173] |
August 2, 2023 | Ryan McLeod | 2-year | [174] |
August 24, 2023 | Evan Bouchard | 2-year | [175] |
October 5, 2023 | Brady Stonehouse | 3-year† | [176] |
October 10, 2023 | Beau Akey | 3-year† | [177] |
March 30, 2024 | Olivier Rodrigue | 1-year‡ | [178] |
June 28, 2024 | Cam Dineen | 2-year‡ | [179] |
Calvin Pickard | 2-year‡ | [180] |
Draft picks
Below are the Edmonton Oilers' selections at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, which were held on June 28 to 29, 2023. It was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 56 | Beau Akey | D | Canada | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
6 | 184 | Nathaniel Day | G | Canada | Flint Firebirds (OHL) |
7 | 216 | Matt Copponi | C | United States | Merrimack Warriors (HE) |
References
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