NHL teams need as many “guys” in their lineup as they can get. The more guys, the better the chance of winning Lord Stanley’s Cup. These players are key parts of the team, making important contributions in ways that the star players don’t. How many guys do the Edmonton Oilers have at the start of this season? Let’s take a look.

Who are the Edmonton Oilers’ established go-to guys?

Obviously, Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard are key guys. No explanation required. After that, there is some debate.

Zach Hyman. I would argue that the top-line left winger is the next guy on the list. Hyman is the definition of a guy. Look it up in the hockey bible, and his face will be staring back at you. He scores goals and is one of the best forwards in the league at getting to the net. No. 18 also hits everything in sight and never takes a shift off. Another benefit of his play is the way he inspires his teammates. Hyman is a warrior and drags everyone along with him. He only played 58 games last year and is likely to produce a lot more than 31 goals riding shotgun with McDavid for a full season.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. No. 93 is a well-loved player in Oil Country for good reason. First, the loyal soldier has spent his entire career in the Oiler uniform. Second, he is a responsible player with a diverse set of skills. It’s very useful to have a two-way player who can play wing or centre. Nugent-Hopkins still put up a decent 56 points in 72 games in 2025-26.

Vasily Podkolzin. No. 92 hasn’t been with Edmonton for long, but he’s won over many fans. Podkolzin simply scores, hits, fights, and keeps plays alive. The word is every teammate wants to play with him. He had a career year last season with 19 goals........

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