Four Oilers players making a playoff case for feature roles beyond this season

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Each playoff spring reveals roster players who step beyond their previously defined roles and emerge as stalwarts who stand and deliver for their teams.

The Edmonton Oilers are playing a first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings. Through five games, four players have shown signs of being a bigger part of the solution than the regular season implied.

Two are veterans, well-known to fans. One has discovered the fountain of youth, the other finally recovered from a series of injuries. Two more are late arrivals to the team, and will be looking for contracts in the offseason.

All are earning consideration for next year’s roster. Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is no doubt taking notice. These players are delivering quality in the most important games of the year. All could be Oilers next season based on recent production.

John Klingberg

Perhaps the most shocking development for the Oilers in the early days of the postseason is the emergence of John Klingberg. He didn’t play in Game 1 of the series versus the Kings, but ranks No. 3 in five-on-five ice time (19:19) among Oilers defencemen. He has played well with Jake Walman, posting 2-0 goals and 74 percent expected goals in 47 minutes, via Natural Stat Trick.

The injury to Troy Stecher and the inexperience of Ty Emberson gifted Klingberg this opportunity. His strong play since being deployed in a top-four defensive role is the real story. I looked at his performance for Edmonton in early March, concluding he wasn’t the answer to whatever question the Oilers were asking. I suggested he might be better off going to an NHL training camp in the fall, starting on the same level as all other players and trying to establish himself with a full preseason to impress.

Bowman’s bet, a long shot at best, is cashing in at the most important part of the season.

If Klingberg’s quality play continues, he should put himself in a position for a contract and a roster spot as a regular in the fall. He isn’t a power-play or penalty-killing option for the Oilers, but has been strong at even strength. Klingberg is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Evander Kane

The injury issues experienced by Evander Kane over the last couple of seasons had many Oilers fans counting the days until his no-movement clause relaxed. Dealing Kane would ease cap worries, according to the critics, and allow management to wheel in free agency with some money to burn.

It’s possible many fans forgot how much Kane can impact a playoff game. All have been reminded in this series. Punishing hits, helping keep the puck miles from the Edmonton net and some early flashes of his offensive ability (including a goal in Game 5, assisted by Klingberg). Offensively, Kane may be able to contribute more than expected now that he’s completely healthy. He’s at 1.81 goals per 60 and 2.72 points per 60 at five-on-five already, and he could be even more impactful once all the rust is knocked off from the long wait between games.

It’s still possible Edmonton moves Kane in the summer (he has one year left on his deal), but his presence in the Kings series is a reminder of his unique qualities. Those who questioned his ability to deliver were at least partly driven by the long injury layoff, but Kane is impossible to overlook when healthy.

Corey Perry

Before the 2024-25 season, I estimated scoring numbers for all Oilers players projected to be on the roster. Perry’s numbers (six goals and 14 points in 50 games) reflected a reduced role for an aging but still effective veteran who found a way to play in the NHL through all of his 30s. The preseason prediction was well shy of the mark. Perry’s final regular season totals (19-11-30 in 81 games) are stunning when his age and assumed competition for playing time are considered.

He continues to make a positive impact during the postseason. At five-on-five during the Los Angeles series, the Oilers are outscoring opponents 4-2. Offensively, Perry has two goals and an assist in five games.

Perry has exceptional utility. He’s an agitator, but his primary gifts involve making smart plays in the offensive zone. Tipped pucks, blind passes (a beauty in the third period against the Kings led to a great chance), great positioning in the slot, hard work along the wall and some nasty business in scrums are all part of Perry’s game.

He’s 40 and a pending free agent. No one should be surprised if he returns for another season.

Trent Frederic

When Bowman acquired Trent Frederic from the Boston Bruins at the deadline, he identified a perfect fit for what Edmonton’s roster required. Frederic is a rugged winger, an aggressive forechecker and a complementary scorer who brings enough offence to spend time on skill lines.

Unfortunately for player and team, Frederic was injured at the time of the trade and experienced a false start in his attempt to return.

Only now are fans seeing what Frederic can bring to a game. He has an assist in five games, several high-danger chances, which included a 10-bell chance in the second period against the Kings on Tuesday night. He hits everything in sight (17 hits in the first five games) and plays an agitating game.

Frederic is about to cash in with his first big contract. The Oilers are not ideally situated to deliver another long-term deal, but can offer him feature minutes on a high-octane line at least some of the time. His skill set is badly needed by Edmonton, this spring and over the next several seasons.

Bottom line

The series between Los Angeles and Edmonton has been intense and well-played. Game 5 was an instant classic, with all four men heavily involved.

Klingberg played 18:36 with an assist and five shots on goal. Kane played 16:53, with a goal, five shots, two high-danger chances and a massive shot block as the clock wound down on the Oilers’ victory. Perry played 13:03, two shots, four high-danger chances and some electric passing that kept the puck in good spots. Frederic played 10:39, with two shots, a brilliant look offensively and impressive forechecking.

Everything about the playoffs is magnified. For Klingberg, Kane, Perry and Frederic, each is meeting a glorious opportunity with quality performances. Each has an important role on a team that took exactly one forever to find the elite game fans saw in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

(Photo of Evander Kane: Perry Nelson / Imagn Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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