The famous line from the movie Forrest Gump, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get” might be the best way to summarize the Edmonton Oilers’ 2022-23 season. You just never know what you’re going to get from this team on any given night.

After a recent closed-door, players-only meeting following a humiliating home loss to the Seattle Kraken on Jan. 3, the Oilers came out with one of their best performances of the season in their next game beating the New York Islanders 4-2 two nights later. With an important four-game road trip coming up all against Pacific Division opponents, the Oilers are going to need to play some of their best hockey of the season in order to move up in their division.

Oilers are a Team Still Searching for an Identity

Who are the 2022-23 Oilers? Are they the strong, defensive-minded, tight-checking squad that went all the way to the Western Conference Final last season? Or are they back to being the Oilers from the decade of darkness – where fans’ expectations were crushed almost on a nightly basis? They might be somewhere in between at the moment, and that’s disappointing for a franchise that was gifted the generational talent of Connor McDavid in the 2015 NHL Draft.

What Do the Oilers Need To Gain Traction in 2023?

Trade suggestions and rumours to improve the Oilers’ defence seem to come up on a daily basis. Jakob Chychrun is often the first name that comes up when the question is asked about who could help the Oilers immediately. But he might not be what the team needs right now. Other names that have been suggested include Joel Edmundson, Luke Schenn, Jake McCabe and Mattias Ekholm.