NHL Insider Is Not Wrong. Edmonton Oilers Are A Worse Team Right Now Without Darnell Nurse In The Lineup

NHL insider Frank Corrado is not wrong. The Edmonton Oilers are a worse team right now than when they had Darnell Nurse in the lineup. They have some cap space now though and it's what they do next that will dictate if their lineup can be better in 2026-27 than it was in 2025-26. They need to add a top six forward to their lineup. There are some left in free agency that can be a top six forward for the Oilers or they can look to trade for one. If they fail to add a top six forward this summer, their off-season will be a failure.

The Oilers were just a .500 team in 2025-26, with 41 wins and 41 losses (30 regulation losses and 11 overtime losses). They didn't make the playoffs by much and while Edmonton media can talk about saving cap space for the trade deadline to add a forward then, the trade deadline will do no team any good if they aren't in a playoff position. Here is more on the Oilers current situation.