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Oilers Need to Make Tough Decision With Owen Michaels

Edmonton Oilers forward Owen Michaels (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

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Oilers Need to Make Tough Decision With Owen Michaels

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Nov 7, 2026 12:00 PM ET

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There hasn’t been a ton for Edmonton Oilers fans to complain about early into the 2026-27 season. While the amount of injuries they have gone and are continuing to go through are less than ideal, it hasn’t had the negative impact one would assume. Through their first 17 games of the season, they own a stellar 11-3-3 record.

To no surprise, the biggest reason for their success in the early going has been the play of their big guns. Connor McDavid leads the way with a mind-numbing 44 points, while Leon Draisaitl is already up to 31. And, just for extra measure, Evan Bouchard is right there as well with 30 points.

As impressive as those three have been, they aren’t the only reason the Oilers have started off so hot. They’re getting strong play on the back end, have had some depth scoring, and their goaltending has mostly been strong. It’s been as good of a start to a season as we’ve seen in Edmonton so far, and everybody on the roster deserves credit.

That includes Owen Michaels, who surprised many when he earned a spot on the opening night roster. The undrafted 24-year-old had an incredible camp and impressed head coach Mike Babcock with his attention to detail. But, what was a strong start to the season for Michaels has quickly faded, and could soon force the Oilers to make a difficult decision with the young centreman.

Michaels Struggling After Strong Start

Early into the 2026-27 season, Michaels was quickly beloved by Oilers fans. He gave them depth down the middle of the ice, which is something this team has lacked far too often. To make matters better, he was also chipping in offensively, scoring two goals in his first three games.

Michaels’ offensive game has cooled dramatically ever since, as he sits with just four points through 17 games. Granted, it was never offence the Oilers needed from Michaels. They simply needed a centreman they could throw on the ice to shut the other team down offensively. Early into the season, Michaels was just that. Now? It looks as though he’s a player who could use some time in the American Hockey League (AHL).

There’s absolutely no shame in sending Michaels to the AHL, and it is by no means a reflection of his game. He’s proven that he has the tools to be an NHL player. Right now, however, he’s better off honing his craft with the Bakersfield Condors. After all, this is his first season of pro hockey, having spent the past three seasons with Western Michigan University.

What could buy Michaels a bit more time to try and get things back on track is that it’s clear Babcock is very high on him. The veteran bench boss has gone out of his way on several occasions to praise his game, meaning that he may get a bit of a longer leash. That said, if his recent struggles continue much longer, even Babcock won’t be able to ignore them. As pointed out by Jonathan Willis on X, it’s not just Michaels’ offensive game that’s slipping. Over his last eight games, the Oilers are being outscored 5-0 when he’s on the ice. Over that same stretch, they’ve had just 35 shot attempts while allowing 86 against. This has also come despite getting 12 offensive zone starts to 10 in the defensive zone.

Decision Should Be Coming in Near Future

As mentioned, Babcock will likely give Michaels a longer leash than some players given that he seems very fond of the rookie. If these struggles continue much longer, however, the Oilers will be forced to make a decision. Should they send him down in the immediate future, don’t be surprised to see a player like Joshua Samanski recalled as his replacement.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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