Expectations for each Edmonton Oilers forward heading into the 2025–26 season

Training camp is starting up next week for the Edmonton Oilers and after another loss in the final, this season is all about winning the Cup. There are some interesting storylines heading into the preseason as once again, the Oilers forward group, particularly the wingers, looks different.

Gone are veterans like Jeff Skinner, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown, Corey Perry, and Evander Kane. Coming in are speedy and younger guys in Andrew Mangiapane, Matthew Savoie, and Isaac Howard, along with a wild card in David Tomasek. With the new additions up front, some people are wondering just how well will the new group of guys will gel with the team.

Let’s dive into each player on the forward core and their expectations for the season.

Leon Draisaitl

After being snubbed from the Hart Trophy and an improved defensive season, I think Leon Draisaitl is going to take another step forward. He’ll likely have his workhouse winger in Ashly Podkolzin with him for majority of the season and young rookie Matt Savoie.

With this being the first year of his new contract, I think expectations for Draisaitl are around the same as last year: 50 goals and around 115 to 120 points.

With Paul MacFarlane as the new power play coach, I think the Oilers and Draisaitl himself will see an improvement in that area as well. Along with this is to improve defensively more and maybe squeak into the Selke race. He finished sixth last season.

Trent Frederic

Trent Frederic showed some promise as an Oiler in the first round series vs the Los Angeles Kings, but it was clear he was still battling that high-ankle sprain he had since his trade from Boston.

With a new long-term extension in place and being fully healthy, the expectation for Freddy is to provide secondary scoring (around 15 to 20 goals), be a physcial force and be a good penalty killer.

Adam Henrique

Adam Henrique is likely on the Oilers fourth line this year and might not see any time on the second powerplay unit unlike last season. He’ll still get some time on the penalty kill, but of course don’t expect him to produce much there. 10 goals and 20 points should be doable for a player of his calibre in soft minutes.

Ike Howard and Matt Savoie

I alluded to this in my hot takes post. I think Savoie has the edge right now over Howard with the full year of Bakersfield and four games with the Oilers under his belt.

Howard, who I do think is gonna be really good, will take time to adjust to the pro game. Both these guys will likely see special teams time (Savoie penalty kill and Howard PP2) and some time with the top guns. I think it’s likely Savoie falls in the 35 to 40 point range while Howard is lower at 25 to 30.

Zach Hyman

This is tough. Hyman has yet to shoot a puck so we really do not know when he’ll return for the Oilers. Let’s just assume, somehow, he is fully healthy for game one which I doubt. I think his finishing luck will come back and also pick up more assists as Connor McDavid starts to shoot again. In that scenario 30 goals and 65 to 70 points is likely.

However, let’s go with the scenario where he is probably out until November and takes a while to get going again. In say a 60-game season, I’d expect 17 to 20 goals and 45 points, which is an improvement over last season still.

Mattias Janmark

Honestly, I think Janmark is traded. There’s no spot on the roster for him and he makes too much money.

If he is on the team, though, him being an offensive contributor in any way would be nice. I don’t expect too much as his offensive numbers have declined each year and he’s becoming more and more of an anchor out there.

Kasperi Kapanen

Basically, Kapanen is going to be Janmark’s replacement. He has the wheels like Janmark and probably has more offence to give. 7 to 10 goals and 20 points would be a solid season for Kappy.

Curtis Lazar and Noah Philp

I like both these players a lot. Philp is the bigger body, but Lazar is the more grindy, two-way forward. Both of them are RHC so I think they’re both on the opening night roster. For Philp, I’d say 15 to 20 points would be a solid season and Lazar is the same, but becoming a key force on the Oilers penalty kill and shutdown centre.

Andrew Mangiapane

After the Brown, Arvidsson, and Skinner hype, I’m trying my best not to overrate the production the Breadman will bring to the team. I love Mangiapane’s game. He’s a speedy forechecker who pisses off the opposition.

He typically averages 14 to 18 goals a season, except for that outlier 35-goal year in 2021–22. With some time with McDavid or Draisaitl along with PP2 time, I think 20 goals and 35 to 40 points is reasonable.

Connor McDavid

I know I said this last year ,but I’ll stick with it again since Connor himself recognized his lack of shooting. He’s going back to at least his 40-goal form and I think he’ll crack the 50 mark this season as well.

Obviously, this means the assists will come down by a bit, but I don’t think by much.

With the power play set to improve, I don’t think McDavid’s production will fall off that much. Last season was one of his worst since he entered the league where he *only* had 100 points in 67 games. I expect a 50–85–135 year from him next season similar to his 2023–24 statline.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Nugent-Hopkins struggled a bit offensively in the regular season last year, some due to the power play being ineffective and the half the team being injured in the last four weeks. However in the playoffs, he once again showed he’s such an impactful and important piece.

I think RNH is set to have a bet of a bounce back season. 25 goals and 40 assists for 65 points, along with being a mainstay on the penalty kill and power play is my prediction.

Vasily Podkolzin

Podkolzin had a solid first season in Edmonton scoring eight goals in the regular season and having 10 points in 22 playoff games. He was one of their most impressive forwards in the final.

With being Draisaitl’s wingman, the expectation now is for Podkolzin to not only continue his hard, forechecking, defensive game but start producing a bit more offence. 12 to 15 goals and 30 points shouldn’t be too hard for him to get too.

David Tomasek

I have no expectations for Tomasek. European forwards are hard to gauge. Stan Bowman has had some luck in the past with guys like Pius Suter, Dominil Kahun and Kubalik, Jan Rutta and obviously Artemi Panarin, but we’ll see on Tomasek. 10 goals and 20 points would be great in my opinion.

A lot of interesting storylines will come out of camp and preseason this year and I’m excited to see how everything unfolds over the next six months.