gold star for USAHOF

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023-24 revision of our top 50 Edmonton Oilers.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey, we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Edmonton made it to the Stanley Cup Finals but could not win it, falling in seven to the Florida Panthers.  We had two new entrants to the Top 50 and multiple elevations.

As always, we present our top five, which saw some significant changes:

1. Wayne Gretzky
2. Connor McDavid
3. Mark Messier
4. Jari Kurri
5. Leon Draisaitl

You can find the entire list here.

Regarding the top five, Connor McDavid added the Conn Smythe to his list of trophies.  He overtook Mark Messier for the second spot.  Leon Draisaitl also enters the top five, by passing Paul Coffey for that spot.

Forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins moved one spot to #12.

Defenseman Darnell Nurse advanced five spots to #15.

Defenseman Evan Bouchard makes his first appearance at #35.

The second debut was Zach Hyman, who entered at #37.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

37. Zach Hyman

Zach Hyman played the first six seasons of his NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but his career took off when he signed with Edmonton in 2021.

Hyman broke 50 Points for the first time in his inaugural season with the Oilers, and he rose that to 83 Points the year after.  Last season, Hyman scored 54 Goals, placing him third overall, and he was especially outstanding in the 2024 Playoffs, where he led all players in Goals (16), Even Strength Goals (10), Power Play Goals (6), and Shots (90).

If Hyman continues this level of play, we have a future All-Star.

As of this writing, Evan Bouchard has been an in-depth defenseman for the Edmonton Oilers and had a monster breakout last season, scoring 82 Points and a Plus/Minus of 34.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022/23 revision of our top 50 Edmonton Oilers.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, Edmonton made it to the Second Round of the playoffs where they were knocked out by the eventual champions, Vegas.  There are no new entrants on the Top 50, but four players increased their rank.

As always, we present our top five, which saw one change:

1. Wayne Gretzky

2. Mark Messier

3. Connor McDavid

4. Jari Kurri

5. Paul Coffey

You can find the entire list here.

Last year, McDavid had the best season of his life, and doesn’t that say something?  He won his third Hart, fifth Art Ross, sixth First Team All-Star, first Rocket Richard Award and set personal highs in Goals (64), Assists (89) and Points (153).

Leon Draisaitl continues his climb, moving from #7 to #6.

Fresh off his first 100-Point year, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins advanced to #13 from #16.

Defenseman, Darnell Nurse, moved to #20 from #24.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our post 2021/22 revision of our top Edmonton Oilers.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Hockey League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Last year, the Oilers finally made it to Conference Finals, which considering their two young superstars, Connor McDavid & Leon Draisitl, was projected for them before now.

As always, we present our top five, which changed from last year:

1. Wayne Gretzky

2. Mark Messier

3. Jari Kurri

4. Connor McDavid

5. Paul Coffey

You can find the entire list here.

McDavid, who won the Art Ross last year for the fourth time, moved up from #6.

2020 Hart Trophy winner, Leon Draisaitl, climbed to #9 from #7.

Center, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, went up two ranks to #17.

Defenseman, Darnell Nurse went up from #26 to #24.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021-22 revision of our top 50 Edmonton Oilers.

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NHL. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Please note, that this is our first revision in in the last two years, and it has generated one new entry, and four elevations.

As always, we present our top five immediately, although there are no changes from our last list:

1. Wayne Gretzky

2. Mark Messier

3. Jari Kurri

4. Paul Coffey

5. Grant Fuhr

You can find the entire list here.

Connor McDavid, who won the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2021, moves from #11 to #6.  He will likely overtake Fuhr and enter the top five soon.

Fellow Hart Trophy and Art Ross winner (2020), Leon Draisitl, rocketed from #20 to #9.

Center, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, moved up from #22 to #19.

Defenseman, Darnell Nurse, debuts at #27.

Defenseman, Oscar Klefbom, climbed to #47 from #50.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

After the Edmonton Oilers used their First Round (7th Overall) Pick in 2013, the squad allowed their highly touted, Defenseman, Darnell Nurse, to stay in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie.  After a year in the AHL, Nurse was ready to be promoted to the NHL.

The Oilers “nursed” the Defenseman along, limiting his playing time, but keeping him on the roster to gain experience.  With imposing size and speed, Nurse’s early years were focused on the defensive side, but each year his offensive skill set improved.  

In 2020/21, Nurse had his breakout campaign, though it was largely underreported.  Finishing seventh in Norris voting, Nurse posted 36 Points, his third consecutive 30-plus season, but he lit the lamp 16 times, 15 of which on even strength.  Nurse led the NHL in Defensive Point Shares, and had a stellar Plus/Minus of +27.  In 2022-23, Nurse had his best offesnive year, with a personal best of 43 Points.

Nurse is poised to rise even higher on this list, as his potential has now been realized.

194. Charlie Huddy

Charlie Huddy was a member of all five Stanley Cup wins for the Edmonton Oilers and while many of those Oilers stars are inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and Huddy has not been, it does not mean that his accomplishments for Edmonton should be discounted.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Edmonton Oilers. 

Debuting as the Alberta Oilers in 1972 in the World Hockey Association, they would exchange the Alberta for Edmonton after one year.  The Oilers were an original WHA team, who would be one of four franchises that would be absorbed into the NHL in 1979.  When they joined the NHL, they had a young Wayne Gretzky in tow, and after drafting players like Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri, Mark Messier and Grant Fuhr, a dynasty occurred that would win four Stanley Cups in the 1980s and one in 1990.  Since that time, they made the Finals once in 2006.  

As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NHL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018-19 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Wayne Gretzky

2. Mark Messier

3. Jari Kurri

4. PaulCoffey

5. GrantFuhr

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for or All-Time Top 50 Colorado Avalanche coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.

50. Bill Guerin

Bill Guerin only played 211 Games for Edmonton, but his combination of speed, skill, and grit made him a fan-favorite for any small market Canadian city.

From Finland, Risto Siltanen was one of the first Finnish Defenseman to make his way to North America to play professional hockey.

In the 1997-98 season, the Edmonton Oilers were able to trade for Roman Hamrlik from the Tampa Bay Lightning, who were selling off assets.  Hamrlik was a former number one draft pick, who was gifted at both ends of the ice and could be utilized in any situation.  He scored 26 Points in his half-season with the Oilers and followed that with campaigns of 32 and 45 Points, respectively.  In all three years that Hamrlik was with Edmonton, they would make the post-season.

Brett Callighen was traded from the New England Whalers to Edmonton in his first pro year, and it proved to be the right home for the forward.  Callighen would have 50 Points in his first full year with the Oilers, and he would 70 the season after while making history as Wayne Gretzky's first Left Wing with Edmonton.

45. Dave Hunter

Dave Hunter first signed with the Edmonton Oilers as an underage Free Agent in 1978, and the Edmonton brass was impressed with his checking skills, despite only scoring 32 Points.  That was the last year that the Oilers were in the World Hockey Association, and they would covet Hunter, whose rights were held by Montreal in the NHL.  They claimed him from Edmonton in the Expansion Draft, and he remained with the Oilers until November of 1987.

44. Ethan Moreau

Ethan Moreau played 653 Games with the Edmonton Oilers, and while he was not forward with a scoring touch on the NHL level, he was considered an upper-echelon leader. 

Before Dustin Penner arrived in Edmonton, he had won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim, and when he left, he would win a second with the Los Angeles Kings.  While he never played a post-season game with the Oilers, his best individual play happened with that team.

41. Eric Brewer

Eric Brewer played 1,009 Games in the National Hockey League with 315 of them in an Oilers uniform.  It was in the Province of Alberta where he arguably played his best on a professional level.

40. Jason Arnott

Jason Arnott was the 7th Overall Draft Pick in 1993, and as a rookie, he would have one of the best seasons of his career.  The Center scored 68 Points, and was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy, losing to future Hockey Hall of Famer, Martin Brodeur.  Arnott would never match that total again as an Oiler, but he would have two more campaigns where he had at least 57 Points.  He would also be named an All-Star in 1997.

Mike Krushelnyski’s career began in Boston for three seasons, and he was traded straight-up for Ken Linseman to the defending Stanley Cup Champion in the summer of 1984.  It was a good trade for both sides, and Krushelnyski was an All-Star in 1985 and put forth a career-high 88 Points.  He would also finish the season third in Plus/Minus (+60) and sixth in Shooting Percentage (22.5).  He played in Edmonton for four seasons, helping the Oilers win the Stanley Cup in three of them, and he would score 226 Points in 290 Games for the team.

As of this writing, Swedish born Defenseman Oscar Klefbom is the Oilers’ best shutdown Defenseman, who rarely gets costly penalties (or any penalties at all) to affect his team in a negative way.