4 Edmonton Oilers players set to compete at World Championships
The season hasn’t quite ended for a few select Edmonton Oilers players.
Their quest for the Stanley Cup did come to an end with a first-round loss to the Anaheim Ducks, but several Oilers players are resetting their sights on a new prize. With the team bowing out early, players have become eligible to play in the 2027 IIHF World Hockey Championships later this month.
This year’s tournament will take place in Switzerland between May 15 and 31. A total of 16 countries will compete in the 2026 competition, and four Oilers players will be making the trip.
Team USA will enter the tournament as defending champions, while Canada will look to avenge a surprising quarterfinal upset at the hands of Denmark.
It’s an event that may have flown under the radar of Oilers fans the past couple of seasons, but with Oilers players now competing, it could get a lot more interesting.
Here are all the players that Oilers fans should be on the lookout for…
1. Evan Bouchard, Canada
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images
After being left off of Team Canada’s Olympic roster, Evan Bouchard will finally have a chance to rep the red maple leaf.
The 26-year-old defenceman is coming off an incredible season with the Oilers. He led all NHL defencemen with 95 points and set career highs in goals (21) and assists (74). Bouchard is expected to be a Norris Trophy threat this year as the league’s best defenceman.
This will be his first time representing Canada since the 2019 World Junior Championships.
2. Mattias Ekholm, Sweden
Sergei Belski/Imagn Images
Another Olympic snub that will head back to the international stage is Mattias Ekholm for Sweden.
Many were shocked to see Ekholm left off of Sweden’s Olympic roster, and while you may expect there to be some bad blood between him and the Swedish national team, that does not appear to be the case.
Välkommen tillbaka till Tre Kronor herr, Mattias Ekholm 👏 pic.twitter.com/9o2RrxxDnW
— Tre Kronor (@Trekronorse) May 6, 2026
The 35-year-old is getting up there in age, but is still a very good top-four defenceman. He last suited up for Sweden at the 2024 Four Nations Face Off.
3. Darnell Nurse, Canada
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images
The Team Canada blueline will have a very Oilers feel to it at the 2026 tournament.
Darnell Nurse will be joining Bouchard in representing Canada at the Worlds, and it opens up some interesting options. Could Canada pair up the two teammates, or will they separate them?
Nurse’s name has been in trade rumours lately, but he still remains an important part of Edmonton’s defensive core. He last represented Canada at the 2019 World Championships.
4. Josh Samanski, Germany
Perry Nelson/Imagn Images
The Oilers may have one of Germany’s breakout young talents, as Josh Samanski will once again don a Deutschland jersey.
Samanski had quite an eventful season, making his NHL debut with the Oilers and heading to the Olympics for the first time as a member of the German team. All the while, he’s played alongside the greatest German hockey player of all time, Leon Draisaitl.
Weitere Verstärkung aus der NHL für die deutsche Nationalmannschaft: Josh Samanski (Edmonton Oilers) ist wie auch Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken) und Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) Teil des DEB-Teams für die anstehende WM! 💪#LetsGoOilers | @edmontonoilers | #Samanski pic.twitter.com/aw9w0mSjzy
— NHL Deutsch (@NHLde) May 6, 2026
This will be the 24-year-old’s second time at the World Championship after competing with Germany last year.