The Edmonton Oilers’ 9-1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche has sparked considerable discussion on social media about everything Edmonton: their ongoing goalie woes, their questionable defense, and, of course, stern objections to coach Kris Knoblauch’s frequent attempts to experiment with the lines.
However, a recent criticism leveled against the men in blue and orange is not about their performance per se, but their nonchalant attitude on ice.
After such monumental losses, one would expect the Oilers to strike back with fury, but veteran NHL journalist Jim Matheson pointed out that Edmonton often comes in and out of games looking completely distant. However, had a certain winger still been around, Matheson believes things could have looked different.
Do the Oilers Need Evander Kane Right Now?
Former Oilers winger Evander Kane had quite a reputation, and while his name is accompanied by a bit of controversy, it’s fair to argue that Kane could have brought the bite that Edmonton needs so badly at this juncture. Kane, who was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in June 2025, is nearing the end of the four-year, $20.5 million contract he signed with the Oilers.
GM Stan Bowman bid farewell to the winger by expressing gratitude for his contributions to the Oilers brass. “He always battled hard and played hurt to try to help us win. His competitive spirit and offensive ability helped us go on long playoff runs the last few seasons. We wish him all the best in Vancouver,” Bowman said.
However, was the Kane trade poorly thought through? Not only was the 34-year-old winger a menace for the opponent on ice because of his offensive prowess, but he also continued to produce at an impressive level during the playoffs. In return for Kane, the Oilers acquired a fourth-round draft pick. However, the trade had more to do with freeing up cap space for free agency than desperately finding a way to part with Kane, because in all honesty, he was an asset for Edmonton.
It is not certain that the Oilers miss Kane in their lineup, but as Matheson pointed out, things could have looked different had he been around. “Most disturbing thing about Oilers getting their butts kicked by Avs: no mad in their game, no fights, no nothing. Just go quietly into night. Corey Perry wouldn’t have put up with this. Same with Evander Kane. Team tough they are not, at all,” he tweeted.
Most disturbing thing about Oilers getting their butts kicked by Avs: no mad in their game, no fights, no nothing. Just go quietly into night. Corey Perry wouldn’t have put up with this. Same with Evander Kane. Team tough they are not, at all
— Jim Matheson (@jimmathesonnhl) November 9, 2025
Of course, if Kane were still around, he would fight back. But in his absence, the Oilers need to figure out a way to channel similar energy in their upcoming battles. The team has already slipped to the bottom of the Pacific Division, and the men in blue and orange need to bare their fangs and fight back if they want to salvage this season.
