Who are the Oilers’ top 7 rival teams?

The Edmonton Oilers played one of their best games of the year this week, shutting out the Calgary Flames. The Battle of Alberta has been a fierce rivalry since the 1980s.

But is Calgary really a top rival anymore? The Flames haven’t been competitive for a few years, although it would be better for Edmonton if they were. Calgary is clearly rebuilding, so they’re not a high-profile opponent for the Oilers right now. The Vancouver Canucks are in the same position; they have been a rival in the past, but they’re also early in a rebuild.

Teams that could become solid rivals include the Kraken and Sharks. Seattle keeps winning somehow, and San Jose has the talent to climb up the ranks. Considering both teams are in the Pacific Division, there’s a good chance of a future playoff matchup.

Let’s take a look at the current top 7 rivals of the Oilers:

#7. Minnesota Wild

Bill Guerin’s team would be higher on this list, but the teams have no playoff history to speak of. They’ve also owned the Oilers for years. The Wild play hard and have been a good checking team for a long time. In recent years, they’ve also added skilled players including Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Quinn Hughes (for now), Joel Eriksson-Ek, Brock Faber, and good goaltending. Under Mike Babcock’s leadership, the Oilers might be transforming into a team that could deal better with Minnesota. They’ve already tamed the Wild once.

#6. Utah Mammoth

The Mammoth have suddenly become a rival of the Oilers. The moment Jack McBain hit Leon Draisaitl from behind and Utah won that game, it began. When Edmonton crushed the Mammoth a couple of days later, everyone knew the rivalry would continue for some time. If Utah continues to improve, they could become a top opponent of the Oilers. With the likes of Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, Mikhail Sergachev, Nick Schmaltz, and Logan Cooley they have a solid lineup.

#5. Anaheim Ducks

There is history between Anaheim and Edmonton as both have beaten each other in the playoffs. Last season, the Ducks eliminated Edmonton in the first round and renewed hostilities. They’re a big, skilled team and match up well against the Oilers. Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Jackson Lacombe, and Bennett Sennecke are all quality players. Considering the age of their top players, Anaheim could be a problem for years.

#4. Dallas Stars

Even though the Oilers have owned the Texas team in the playoffs, the rivalry is still alive. The last time Dallas walked into Rogers Place, they blew out the home team 7-2. They’re a big, skilled team and have given Edmonton a difficult time over the years. Their lineup is pretty stacked with Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson (for now), Jake Oettinger, Miko Heiskanen, and Wyatt Johnson. The Stars have had many playoff disappointments and are desperate to outdo the Oilers and other contenders.

#3. Colorado Avalanche

Colorado knocked the Oilers out of the playoffs in 2022, and fans in Northern Alberta haven’t forgotten. The Avalanche have been one of the top teams in the NHL for a long time and McDavid vs. MacKinnon is a marquee matchup. The Avalanche also boast the likes of Cale Makar, Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog, Nazim Kadri, and decent goaltending. Colorado is a talented team like the Tampa Bay Lightning that can plays hard and fast. They have beaten the Oilers in three of the last four games, including a 9-1 humiliation in Rogers Place.

#2. Vegas Golden Knights

There is no love lost between Edmonton and Vegas. First, the expansion team from Nevada knocked the Oilers out of the playoffs in 2023, and then the Alberta team returned the favour in 2025.  The Golden Knights have a formidable lineup that includes Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, and William Karlsson. The Golden Knights are big, talented and loathe the Oilers organization.

They prevented Edmonton from interviewing Bruce Cassidy in the spring of 2026 even though Vegas had relieved him of his coaching duties. Then Vegas accused Edmonton of leaking details about the Cassidy situation to the media. Oiler fans haven’t forgot that former Golden Knights’ captain Alex Pietrangelo was only suspended for one playoff game when he took a high, two-handed swing with his stick at Leon Draisaitl.

#1. Florida Panthers

There is no doubt who is the Oilers’ top rival. Florida prevailed over Edmonton in the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Finals. The Panthers are a aggressive, talented team and have given Edmonton all it can handle. As far as Edmonton fans are concerned, there are a number of villains in the Florida lineup, including Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand, Radko Gudas, and Matthew Tkachuk. In addition to Bennett, Marchand, and Tkachuk, their lineup also includes other skilled players like Brady Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Gustav Forsling, and Carter Verhaeghe. A third Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers would be epic. What better way for McDavid and Draisaitl to win their first Cup than to slay the dragon.