Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Mathieu Joseph

The 2026-27 season is almost here, so let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. The last player we looked at was Zach Hyman, and now we turn our attention to one of the newest members of the forward group.

The Oilers bolstered their depth by signing Mathieu Joseph to a one-year, $1 million contract on the first day of free agency. Joseph spent last season between the St. Louis Blues and the Los Angeles Kings, registering two goals and 11 points in 51 games. He missed seven games in January with an elbow injury, and also missed time at the beginning of the season with a lower-body injury.

The Kings eventually signed him after the Blues terminated his contract, but things didn’t go well. He was held pointless in 12 games and was healthy scratched numerous times because of his inconsistent play. He wasn’t a fit in Los Angeles and is looking for a fresh start in Edmonton. Let’s preview his upcoming season.

Joseph Is Physical & Can Fill a Role

Joseph will add much-needed grit and physicality to the lineup. In 39 games with the Blues, he had 85 hits, while adding another 30 with the Kings. He had 10.31 hits per 60 minutes with the Blues and 15.41 hits per 60 minutes with the Kings, which ranked third on the team. In comparison, his 115 hits last season would’ve ranked fourth on the Oilers, behind Vasily Podkolzin, Trent Frederic, and Darnell Nurse. But Nurse is no longer in Edmonton, so the team needs to replace that physicality elsewhere, and Joseph can be that guy.

The 29-year-old can get plugged into the lineup and transition seamlessly. If he gets healthy scratched throughout the season, that’s not the end of the world. He can still have an impact in limited minutes. He can also fill a penalty killing role. The Quebec native killed 37:40 with the Blues and scored a shorthanded goal last season. He has spent over 100 minutes shorthanded in four of his eight NHL seasons. He spent just 1:01 shorthanded with the Kings and couldn’t solidify a role. He struggled immensely as a result. Is that a coincidence? He found more success when he was consistently killing penalties, so hopefully head coach Mike Babcock will give him an opportunity on that unit.