Let me tell you something that’s been gnawing at me for weeks: the Edmonton Oilers are in a weird place right now. They’ve got the most elite one-two punch in the league with McDavid and Draisaitl, but when you look beyond that, the center depth feels like a house of cards. It’s not just a numbers game—it’s a psychological thing. When you’re the reigning champs, fans expect your roster to be bulletproof. But here we are, in the summer of 2026, and the Oilers are basically playing Russian roulette with their middle six.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the NHL has shifted its priorities. Centers are no longer just the guys who take faceoffs—they’re the architects of the game. And yet, the Oilers have this bizarre gap between their top three and the rest of the roster. You’ve got Dickinson, a solid third-line checker, but nothing in between. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins? He’s more of a wing now, which feels like a betrayal of his legacy. I mean, how does a guy who spent 15 years as a two-way center suddenly become a utility player? It’s like watching a symphony conductor switch to a kazoo.
Mike Babcock’s plan to pair McDavid and Draisaitl together five-on-five is bold, but it’s also a bit reckless. You’re putting two generational talents on the same line and hoping the rest of the team can keep up. But here’s the kicker: the Oilers don’t have a Plan B. They’re relying on a guy like Trent Frederic, who’s a veteran winger masquerading as a center. Frederic’s faceoff percentage is decent, but his goal share is a joke. If he can’t outscore his linemates, what’s the point of having him? It’s like asking a chef to play chess while the kitchen burns down.
Now, let’s talk about the future. The Oilers are counting on Josh Samanski and Owen Michaels to step up. Samanski’s got that two-way flair, but he’s still a rookie. The pressure on him is insane—$900K salary in the NHL if he makes the team, but $225K in the AHL otherwise. It’s a gamble, but one that makes sense. Michaels, on the other hand, is the real wildcard. He’s a right-handed center in a league that’s practically allergic to them. Why? Because lefties dominate faceoffs. But Michaels isn’t just a lefty substitute—he’s a pure center with speed and vision. If he can handle AHL opponents, he’ll be in the NHL by October 2027. That’s not a prediction, it’s a conclusion based on his contract terms.
Here’s what bugs me: the Oilers are pretending like they’ve got depth at center, but they’re not even close. They’re relying on a guy like Viljami Marjala, who had a 60-point season in the AHL but got outscored in the first half. That’s not a recipe for success. And don’t even get me started on William Nicholl—his five-game stint with Bakersfield was impressive, but junior stats don’t translate to the pros. The Oilers are basically throwing darts at a dartboard here.
What this really suggests is that the Oilers are in a transitional phase. They’ve got the stars, but they need more than just star power. They need a system, a culture, and a deep pool of talent. Right now, they’re teetering on the edge. If Samanski and Michaels don’t pan out, the Oilers might have to trade for a center. But why would anyone want to trade for a center when the Oilers are already the most valuable team in the league? It’s a paradox that’s going to haunt them this season.
In my opinion, the Oilers are either going to be the most dominant team in the league or the most vulnerable. There’s no middle ground. And if you take a step back and think about it, this is exactly what happens when you win too much. You become complacent, you stop investing in the middle of the roster, and suddenly you’re staring at a rebuild. But I’m not ready to write off the Oilers yet. They’ve got the talent, the coaching, and the will to win. It’s just a matter of whether they can fix the cracks before the whole thing collapses.
