Ranking every Edmonton Oilers 2025 playoff beard from worst to best
The 2025 Edmonton Oilers playoff beard ranking has arrived.
It’s a tradition in hockey to grow out your beard for as long as your team is still fighting for the Stanley Cup. With the Oilers once again back in the Stanley Cup Final, there is plenty of facial hair being sported by players.
Last year, it was Mattias Ekholm who took the top spot in the 2024 rankings. The Viking has long been the standard for beards in the NHL, but he will not repeat as the champion. That honour belongs to a newcomer who has shockingly grown one of the most terrifying beards we’ve ever seen.
There are some rules for who is included on this list. A player must have played a single game with the team in either the Western Conference Final or the Stanley Cup Final. That means that both Ty Embersona and Josh Brown will not be featured.
The only exception to that rule is Calvin Pickard, as he is still on the Oilers bench in the Final and made a brief appearance in Game 3.
Without further ado, let’s get ranking from worst to best…
23. Darnell Nurse
Nurse was growing a great playoff beard earlier in this run, but opted to shave it off.
22. Troy Stecher
Stecher is rocking a goatee for this playoff run, but it just isn’t an inspiring one compared to others on the team.
21. Trent Frederic
There is an inkling of a chin-strap and moustache, but not quite enough to qualify as a beard
20. Vasily Podkolzin
We’re getting somewhere here, but it’s still too light to be ranked any higher
19. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
RNH has never been one to grow a luscious beard. The goatee works for him, but there is more to be desired from a playoff look.
18. John Klingberg
Absolutely nothing wrong with Klingberg’s beard, just a tad short.
17. Jeff Skinner
It may be controversial, but the scraggle on Skinner’s beard helped him jump a few spots.
16. Mattias Janmark
Patchy? Check. Unkempt? Check. It’s a solid effort, but lacks the bushy factor.
15. Kasperi Kapanen
Kapanen has the best goatee of the 2025 playoffs. It’s marvellous.
14. Corey Perry
A solid effort from the vet and a marked improvement from last year’s playoff beard.
13. Zach Hyman
It isn’t long, it’s a bit patchy, but there’s something about this one that makes it stand out.
12. Evander Kane
Leave it to Kane to grow one of the most stylish beards on the team.
11. Viktor Arvidsson
Arvidsson kicks off the beginning of the true playoff-worthy beards.
10. Connor McDavid
The captain opted for a shorter beard this year, but it still looks great.
9. Brett Kulak
Lumberjack-esque look for the Stony Plain native.
8. Leon Draisaitl
Mr. Reliable once again delivers with another great playoff beard.
7. Calvin Pickard
The splash of grey makes this one that much better.
6. Evan Bouchard
Full marks to Bouchard, this beard goes hard.
5. Adam Henrique
The grizzled vet can grow one helluva playoff beard.
4. Connor Brown
Brown’s wild man look last year was a hit. He toned it down this time around, but it’s still a world-class playoff beard.
3. Stuart Skinner
Skinner looks like he could star in a Clint Eastwood western with this beard. An intimidating look to stare down.
2. Mattias Ekholm
Ekholm took the top spot last year with his immaculate beard. It remains magnificent.
1.Ā Jake Walman
I check under my bed every night in fear that I might see 2025 Stanley Cup Playoff Jake Walman lurking in the shadows.