Locked On Oilers - Daily Podcast On The Edmonton Oilers

The NHL salary cap just jumped to $104 MILLION — and every single team in the league is swimming in money. So why is the 2026 NHL free agent class one of the weakest in recent memory? And what does that mean for the Edmonton Oilers heading into the offseason? In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Sarras breaks down the full NHL free agency landscape from the macro economics to the Oilers'...

The Edmonton Oilers have all the star power, but do they have the blueprint for a Stanley Cup championship? In this episode, we wrap up our "Contender Series" by dissecting exactly what separates the perennial playoff hopefuls from the final four teams in the NHL. We take a deep dive into the organizational failures and tactical shifts that the Oilers must address this offseason to move from "cont...

What can a powerhouse team like the Edmonton Oilers learn from a rebuilding-turned-contender squad like the Montreal Canadiens? More than you think. In this Thursday edition of Locked On Oilers , host Nick Zararis continues the Final Four comparison series by diving deep into the massive gap in organizational coherence between Edmonton and Montreal. While the Oilers have stacked individual talent...

The Carolina Hurricanes went up 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night. What can the Edmonton Oilers learn from a team that thrives on a specific, hard-working identity? In this Wednesday edition of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis continues the playoff comparison series by breaking down how the Hurricanes have sustained a window of contention. We di...

Colorado Avalanche showcase the blueprint for sustained NHL success can the Edmonton Oilers adapt before their window closes? Nick Zararis breaks down the Avalanche’s post-Stanley Cup evolution, highlighting how Colorado weathered the loss of key players like Gabriel Landeskog and Nazam Kadri, revamped their roster through strategic trades, and made tough calls such as moving on from Mikko Rantane...

The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the NHL's best teams since entering the league, and the Edmonton Oilers could learn a thing or two from their ruthless operations. In today's episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis kicks off a series comparing the final four playoff teams to see how Edmonton can improve its roster-building strategy. We dive deep into why the Golden Knights' lack of...

What is the absolute best-case scenario for the Edmonton Oilers this offseason? Host Nick Zararis breaks down how the Oilers can navigate their $16.48M in cap space, secure the perfect head coach, and make the drastic roster changes needed to return to true contender status First, we tackle the single most pressing need in Edmonton: hiring the right head coach. From the unprecedented statements ma...

The Edmonton Oilers are officially hunting for a new head coach after firing Kris Knoblauch. With Connor McDavid entering the final years of his contract, the next coaching hire will completely define the future of the franchise. In today's episode, Nick Zararis breaks down the exact coaching archetypes available, why Kris Knoblauch's tenure ended, and the massive risks facing the Oilers in the 20...

The Edmonton Oilers have reportedly received permission to interview former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube. But is he actually the right man to get Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl over the finish line?  On today’s episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down the shocking underlying numbers from Berube’s 10-year coaching ledger across Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Toront...

The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly playing hardball about letting Bruce Cassidy interview for new jobs. However, the Edmonton Oilers should keep trying. On today's episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down why Bruce Cassidy is the exact type of fiery, defense-first coach this roster needs.  We dive deep into his Stanley Cup-winning pedigree, his incredible underlying analytic...

The Edmonton Oilers faced a massive roster crunch and took on way too much risk this past year. Host Nick Zararis breaks down exactly where things went wrong and the hard lessons the front office MUST learn moving forward In this episode, we dive into the struggles of Darnell Nurse and Stuart Skinner, discussing the challenges of teaching "old dogs new tricks" and how poor defense and goaltending...

The Edmonton Oilers have a behind-the-scenes power struggle playing out, and things are starting to get ugly. On this Thursday edition of Locked on Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down the messy situation unfolding in Edmonton's front office. We dive deep into the theory of leverage in sports management and how it applies to Stan Bowman and Kris Knoblauch. Are the Oilers about to fire Knoblauch?...

The Edmonton Oilers offseason is fully coming into picture. The team has a one year audition to woo Connor McDavid into another extension, $16 million in cap space, in a rising cap environment and several open roster spots going into the summer.  Host Nick Zararis goes position by position through the Oilers' forward group identifies the holes, evaluates the returning pieces and starts the convers...

Connor McDavid has been the world's best hockey player for almost the entirety of his entire NHL career. At age 29, the forward is approaching the end of his physical prime and the Edmonton Oilers need a plan to maximize his value to stay competitive.  On this episode, host Nick Zararis explores the aging curves for superstar players including: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin Patrick K...

The Edmonton Oilers did not just lose players this season. They lost coherence. General Manager Stan Bowman and Head Coach Kris Knoblauch were never philosophically aligned and player after player paid the price for it. Nick Zararis breaks down the structural problem at the root of Edmonton's collapse, and why fixing the roster without fixing the leadership dynamic first is a dead end. In this epi...

Twenty months. Dozens of roster decisions. How many actually made the Edmonton Oilers better? Nick Zararis goes through every major move Stan Bowman has made as Edmonton Oilers General Manager: free agent signings, trades, and contract extensions, grades each one, and explains what it means for the team's future with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the clock. What's covered: Free agency grade...

Should Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch keep his job after a first-round exit to the Anaheim Ducks? Nick Zararis breaks down the full case: the numbers, the politics, and the candidates waiting in the wings, to give you the most honest answer you'll hear this offseason. What's covered: Has Kris Knoblauch actually gotten worse results from the Oilers each season? The 3-year even strength d...

Nick Zararis delivers his full goaltending evaluation of the 2025-26 Edmonton Oilers, breaking down every starter, every failed gamble, and what Stan Bowman must do this offseason to fix the position that cost them the season. Topics Covered: Stuart Skinner — 11-8-4, .891 save percentage, benched two straight playoffs. Is he done in Edmonton? And where does he land as a pending UFA? Tristan Jarry...

The Edmonton Oilers' defense was exposed in the playoffs, and the massive contracts of Darnell Nurse and Jake Walman are creating a salary cap nightmare   On today’s Locked On Oilers, Nick Zararis evaluates the state of the Edmonton Oilers' blue line following their first-round exit against the Ducks. From the evolving speed of the NHL to the severe limitations of the current defensive core, this...

The Edmonton Oilers failed to live up to expectations in 2026. Chief amongst their problems in a first round exit was a top heavy forward group. While Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were their usual sublime selves, cracks are beginning to show on the edges.  Topics covered include:  •Diversity in skillsets: Did the Oilers have too much of the same thing up front?  •The waning depth: For three s...

The Season is Over. The Edmonton Oilers have been eliminated from the NHL Playoffs in Game 6 by the Anaheim Ducks. In this "morbid elimination Friday" edition of Locked On Oilers, Nick Zararis sifts through the debris of a series where the Oilers simply "didn't have it" In Today's Episode: The Fatal Flaw: Why a lack of foot speed and mobility throughout the lineup became the Oilers' undoing agains...

The Edmonton Oilers season is on the line. In this episode of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down why Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks is the ultimate "message" game. Can the Oilers stave off elimination and force a Game 7? We dive deep into the numbers, looking at the Edmonton Oilers ' struggles in the second and third periods despite scoring first in every game of this series. We als...

The Edmonton Oilers refuse to go home! In a "Stayin' Alive Wednesday" edition of Locked On Oilers, host Nick Zararis breaks down a gutsy 4-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks to force Game 6.  The day started with a massive scare as Connor McDavid was a game-time decision after missing morning skate. Despite the injury concerns, the captain suited up, and the Oilers responded with a clinical first period...

The Edmonton Oilers have their backs against the wall heading into Game 5 against the Anaheim Ducks. Down 3-1, the season and perhaps the current window of contention is on the line. Can Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Zach Hyman find a way to drag this series back to Edmonton for a Game 6? On today’s Locked On Oilers, Nick Zararis breaks down the "survival mode" mentality required to stay ali...

Down 3-1 in the series after a soul-crushing overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers have a lot of soul-searching to do. Was the Ryan Poehling goal actually a goal? Did the officials blow the whistle too late? Nick Zararis breaks down the officiating controversy while acknowledging the hard truth: the Oilers are getting exactly what they deserve. In this episode, we explore: The Officiating...