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3 Edmonton Oilers depth players who are making a huge playoff impact

Preston Hodgkinson
Preston Hodgkinson
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May 7 2025, 5:58 pm
3 Edmonton Oilers depth players who are making a huge playoff impact
Sam Navarro/Imagn Images

Depth is the name of the game for the Edmonton Oilers through the first seven games of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This Oilers club no longer relies solely on the offensive prowess of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Those two superstars still lead the team in scoring, but the supporting cast has been much more noticeable in the early stages of the playoffs.

They might not even be playing hockey right now if it weren’t for the depth. The Oilers have gotten key contributions from several players down the lineup that helped make their improbable first-round comeback against the LA Kings a possibility.

Further, Game 1 between Edmonton and the Vegas Golden Knights had the fingerprints of the Oilers’ depth players all over it. It’s been a surprising development considering it had been a weak spot for the team over the course of the regular season.

Here are the three depth guys who have been leading the charge in Edmonton:

1. Corey Perry

The ageless wonder of Corey Perry has been on full display this postseason.

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise, considering the 39-year-old notched 19 goals in the regular season, but many thought his play would slow down in the playoffs. After all, he only managed to score a goal and three points in 19 playoff games last year.

That couldn’t be further from the truth, as Perry has been one of Edmonton’s most dependable playoff contributors. He has scored three goals in seven games, all of which came at crucial moments.

Perry has been effective no matter where he plays in the lineup and has most recently been promoted to a top-line role alongside Draisaitl and McDavid.

2. Connor Brown

While Perry has been getting time up on the top line, Connor Brown has been producing exclusively in the bottom six.

After another ho-hum regular season, Brown has reached a different level for the playoffs. He’s been as consistent a player as you could want down the lineup and has been rewarded for his efforts with four goals and six points through seven games.

That is tied for the Oilers’ playoff lead in goals alongside Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard.

Brown is a former 20-goal scorer in this league, so maybe this shouldn’t be a shocker, but his play has been a big reason why the Oilers have won five straight playoff games.

3. John Klingberg

One of the most unlikely heroes of this Oilers playoff run has been John Klingberg.

The Swedish defender looked down and out in the regular season after returning from an extensive hip injury, and many thought his career may be winding down. There were doubts he would even appear in playoff games for the Oilers.

He hasn’t only played, but he has looked great. Klingberg is looking like his old self, making excellent outlet passes and getting in on offensive plays on a regular basis. He has been everything Edmonton could have asked of a second-pair defenceman.

Though he only has two points so far, Klingberg has been essential in making sure the puck goes in the right direction when he’s on the ice.

Klingberg’s stellar play has helped the team weather the loss of Mattias Ekholm through the first seven games of the postseason.

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