Locked On Oilers - Daily Podcast On The Edmonton Oilers

It’s often said comparison is the enemy of joy—but for the Edmonton Oilers, comparing them to recent Stanley Cup winners could reveal the truth about their Cup chances. On today’s Locked On Oilers : How Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl stack up against superstar cores of past champions Why Evan Bouchard is key to Edmonton’s blue line puzzle The depth question: do the Oilers have enough “Colemans...

Earlier this summer, I was skeptical of the Edmonton Oilers extending forward Trent Frederic. After a deeper dive into his pedigree, underlying numbers, and potential role, my perspective has shifted. On today’s episode of Locked On Oilers : Why Frederic’s usage in Boston limited his production What the stats actually say about his impact How he could fit alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisait...

The All Connor McDavid Teammates fantasy roster challenge reaches its final chapter—goaltending. In this episode of Locked On Oilers , host Nick Zararis builds the ultimate Edmonton Oilers goalie tandem from players who have shared the ice with Connor McDavid, while staying under a strict $71.5 million salary cap and using only one rookie contract (already spent on McDavid). We break down the best...

What if you could build the ultimate Edmonton Oilers roster—but only using players who have played alongside Connor McDavid? In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis takes on the All Connor McDavid Teammates lineup challenge, with strict rules: Every player must have overlapped with Connor McDavid in Edmonton The roster must fit under the NHL salary cap Only one player can be on a ro...

What if you could build the ultimate Edmonton Oilers lineup—but only from players who have shared the ice with Connor McDavid? In this episode, we take on the All Connor McDavid Teammates squad-building challenge. The rules are simple but ruthless: every player must have played with McDavid in Edmonton, the roster must fit under the salary cap, and only one player can be on a rookie contract. From...

The 2026 NHL trade deadline has the potential for league altering moves. With superstars like Jack Eichel, Artemi Panarin and Kirill Kaprizov entering the upcoming season as unrestricted free agents, what does it mean for the Edmonton Oilers? On today's episode, host Nick Zararis explores the motivations of teams ahead of the 2025-2026 NHL season who feature superstars in the last year of contract...

The Edmonton Oilers are still in a window of Stanley Cup contention, but past mistakes are starting to put a squeeze on the team's ability to maintain its status. On today's edition of locked on Oilers, Host Nick Zararis explores why the Darnell Nurse extension and Jack Campbell Free Agency signing failed. Nick explores the environmental factors that led up to both decisions, explains why the deal...

In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down the two franchise-shifting moves that turned the Edmonton Oilers from a solid playoff team into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender the free-agent signing of Zach Hyman and the trade for Mattias Ekholm. We analyze how Zach Hyman’s transition from the Toronto Maple Leafs to playing alongside Connor McDavid transformed his game, doubl...

What if YOU were the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers? On today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis takes you through a detailed “what-if” scenario for the summer of 2024 and how the Oilers could have avoided losing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg. We break down how poor roster management, offer sheet missteps, and short-term thinking cost Edmonton two young, cost-controlled p...

In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis answers 20 burning questions about the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and the team’s path forward. Can the Oilers win a Stanley Cup during the McDavid‑Draisaitl era? Who should Edmonton prioritize adding a first‑line winger or a top‑pairing defenseman? And what is Chris Knoblauch’s biggest weakness as a coach? Nick also dives...

Winning isn’t everything at least not in the way most hockey fans think about it. In this episode of Locked On Oilers, Nick Zararis reflects on what truly defines success for players and teams in today’s NHL. From Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s chase for the Stanley Cup to the Edmonton Oilers’ roster development, we examine how progress can exist even without a championship. We also highlight...

Do you want to understand hockey like a true analyst? In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis takes a deep dive into advanced hockey analytics breaking down the difference between counting stats, descriptive stats, and predictive stats and why understanding these numbers is essential for evaluating NHL players and teams. We explore how metrics like expected goals (xG), high‑danger s...

The Edmonton Oilers are known for having one of the most dangerous power plays in the NHL, led by Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins, and Evan Bouchard. But in 2024‑25, the Oilers’ power play dropped from top‑five status to 11th in the league. On this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis dives deep into the numbers behind this regression fewer scoring chances...

The Edmonton Oilers have fallen short in back‑to‑back Stanley Cup Finals, but how different were the 2023‑24 and 2024‑25 teams? Host Nick Zararis examines the numbers behind the Oilers’ regression from Zach Hyman’s scoring drop to the loss of Evander Kane and a less dominant power play to explain why Edmonton couldn’t get over the hump. We also break down playoff performance, penalty kill swings,...

The Edmonton Oilers are entering the new season with more questions about their forwards than their defense. Can they still score enough to make a serious playoff push? Host Nick Zararis breaks down: The Oilers’ 5-on-5 and power play scoring from last year Which scorers are gone—and how many goals they’re taking with them Projected goal regression (good and bad) Who can realistically fill the gap...

For as good as Leon Draisaitl is for the Edmonton Oilers, the center fails to get credit for being as good as he is because he's teammates with Connor McDavid. Host Nick Zararis makes a case for Draisaitl being in the same vein as Evgeni Malkin, an equally worthy superstar companion to one of the best to ever play the game. 0:00 Intro: Leon Draisaitl's overlooked superstar status 5:51 Draisaitl's...

The Edmonton Oilers' future hangs in the balance. What happens if Connor McDavid doesn't sign an extension? On today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, Nick Zararis breaks down why failing to extend the best player in the NHL would be an organizational disaster. We dive into potential trade packages, what kind of return Edmonton could even hope for, and the long-term implications of losing McDavid. Fr...

With Mattias Ekholm entering his mid-30s and playing a crucial role in unlocking Evan Bouchard, the Edmonton Oilers face a difficult decision. Host Nick Zararis breaks down the pros and cons of a potential extension, including aging curves, salary cap implications, and comparable contracts for Chris Tanev, Ryan McDonagh, and more. Nick also looks at: Ekholm’s value beyond the box score How defense...

The Edmonton Oilers made a deep run to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, but age is becoming a real concern for this veteran-heavy roster. In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down whether the Oilers' older core including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Mattias Ekholm, and Adam Henrique can hold up in another playoff run. We analyze each player's trajectory, the Oilers’ success...

The Edmonton Oilers have made a surprising long-term investment, signing Trent Frederic to an 8-year deal. But does it make sense? On today's episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down Frederic's usage in Boston, his skillset, and what his future might look like in Edmonton. We analyze Frederic’s underlying numbers, the impact of environment on player performance, and why this move...

The Edmonton Oilers are entering the 2025–2026 NHL season with a lot of uncertainty and potential on the wings. Who earns a spot in the top six? In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis ranks Andrew Mangiapane, Ike Howard, Matthew Savoie, Trent Frederic, and David Tomasek based on their chances of sticking alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl. Will Andrew Mangiapane rebound and...

The NHL has officially released the 2025–26 schedule, and the Edmonton Oilers have a lot to navigate from a brutal November road trip to key matchups down the stretch. Host Nick Zararis breaks down the NHL’s scheduling philosophy, why gate revenue drives the structure, and how the Oilers can take advantage of a soft divisional layout. Plus: a big-picture look at why the Stanley Cup grind is so bru...

Stan Bowman has been the Edmonton Oilers general manager for almost a year and he’s been busy. In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down every significant move Bowman has made, from signing Evan Bouchard and trading for Jake Walman to waivers, PTOs, and the big Leon Draisaitl extension. Did the Oilers get better? Did Bowman actually make smart use of limited cap space? Thi...

Evan Bouchard just signed a 4-year deal to stay with the Edmonton Oilers, and the numbers prove it’s a bargain. In today’s episode, host Nick Zararis breaks down why Bouchard is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, how his connection with Connor McDavid transforms the Oilers’ offense, and why his postseason numbers are being overlooked. Bouchard is one of the game's best and is integral to the O...

The Edmonton Oilers didn’t have a splashy offseason, but they might still be one of the best teams in the NHL. Host Nick Zararis lays out the three key reasons why Edmonton remains a true Stanley Cup threat: a more stable defensive group led by Jake Walman and Evan Bouchard, the offensive upside of Ike Howard and Matthew Savoie, and the experience gained from two deep playoff runs. Plus: Can Conno...