Edmonton Oilers 2025-26 Season-End Awards

Despite competing in the gruelling men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in February, while almost all his teammates had nearly three weeks to recharge, McDavid managed to play in all 82 games for the first time in three seasons.

The Oilers captain provided his usual share of eye-popping highlights. He had several standout performances, perhaps the most notable coming in Edmonton’s 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on April 8 when McDavid had three goals and two assists, all before the game was 35 minutes old.

Top Defenceman – Evan Bouchard

Honourable Mention: Mattias Ekholm

While Evan Bouchard remains as divisive as ever (some marvel at his offensive output and call him the best blueliner in the league; others point to his defensive lapses and believe that he shouldn’t even be in the conversation for the Norris Trophy), he’s started to receive greater credit for his overall play. There’s a general appreciation for just how special he is, even with his faults.

Simply put, his numbers are just too good to be denied. In 2025-26, Bouchard led all NHL defencemen in points (95), assists (74), and even-strength points (60). He also ranked inside the top five among the league’s defencemen in a host of other categories, including goals (21), even-strength goals (14), power-play goals (seven), power-play points (33), game-winning goals (five), and shots (221).

Bouchard’s stats place him in company with history’s most elite players: he joins Hall-of-Famers Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr as the only defencemen with at least 70 assists and five game-winning goals in a single season, and is one of only 10 different blueliners in NHL history to reach 95 points in a season.

The 26-year-old had 11 games with at least three points, including a spectacular performance at home against Washington on Jan. 24 when he scored three times, including the winning goal in overtime, dished out three assists, and finished with a plus/minus of plus-5.

Top Newcomer – Connor Ingram

Honourable Mention: Jack Roslovic

Connor Ingram was acquired by Edmonton in a trade with the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 1, but didn’t actually make his Oilers debut until just before Christmas, after being recalled from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he spent the first two-plus months of the season. Ingram was recalled only because Edmonton’s top netminder Tristan Jarry was sidelined. When Jarry returned to action, many expected that Ingram would be reassigned to the AHL.

Not only did Ingram outplay Oilers backup Calvin Pickard, but he also proved vastly superior to Jarry after the latter was activated from long-term injured reserve in mid-January. While Pickard and Jarry had their respective struggles, Ingram was rock solid, providing Edmonton with desperately needed stability between the pipes.

Eventually, the Oilers had to move one of the three goalies off their roster, and it was Pickard, not Ingram, that was placed on waivers at the beginning of February. On March 15, Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch named Ingram as his starting goaltender, a role Ingram held through the postseason.

Ingram finished the regular season with a record of 16-10-3, a goals-against average of 2.60 and save percentage of .899. He was named as the Oilers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which honours the player who is judged as best exemplifying qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey.

Most Improved Player – Matt Savoie

Honourable Mention: Vasily Podkolzin

Matt Savoie was a revelation in his first full NHL campaign, landing a permanent home on Edmonton’s top line centred by Connor McDavid by season’s end.

One of only three Oilers forwards to play all 82 regular season games, the 22-year-old winger scored 18 times, had 19 assists, and tied for the team lead with five game-winning goals. He played with a savvy beyond his experience and impacted the game in a variety of facets.

Always known for his offensive ability, Savoie showed himself to be a willing and skilled forechecker. He played on Edmonton’s top penalty-kill unit and led all Oilers forwards in short-handed time on ice.

In Edmonton’s regular season finale, against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place on April 16, Savoie recorded his first NHL hat trick by scoring three times in the opening 20 minutes, becoming the youngest Oiler since 2013 to pot three goals in a single period.