Edmonton Oilers Fantasy Hockey Draft Checklist

Alright, fantasy GMs, listen up. Draft day is the most exciting—and stressful—day of the year. When you’re building a championship-caliber fantasy squad, having Edmonton Oilers on your roster is like finding a cheat code. But you can’t just blindly pick every player wearing orange and blue. You need a strategy.

This checklist is your game plan. We’re going to walk through a practical, step-by-step process to help you maximize the value of Oilers players in your draft, avoid common pitfalls, and build a team that dominates from October to June. Whether you’re in a points-only league or a deep categories brawl, this guide will help you harness the high-octane power of the Oilers for fantasy glory.

Let’s get your draft board ready.

What You Need Before You Start

Before we dive into the steps, let’s make sure you’re set up for success. You don’t need much, but having these things in order is crucial.

Your League’s Scoring Settings: This is the bible. Is it a points league? Which categories count? Are shots on goal, hits, or blocks rewarded? Knowing this dictates everything.
Your Draft Position: Your spot in the order shapes your entire strategy. Picking early, middle, or late changes how you target Oilers stars.
Updated Player Rankings & News: Have a reliable rankings list, but more importantly, stay on top of the latest stories. A training camp injury or a changed Power Play unit can drastically alter a player's value. Keep an eye on our /oilers-latest-news-stories hub for the most current updates.
A Mock Draft or Two: Practice makes perfect. Get a feel for where players are typically going in drafts with your league’s settings.

Got it all? Perfect. Now, let’s build your winner.

Step 1: Lock In Your Foundation with Connor McDavid

This isn’t a step; it’s a commandment. If you have the first overall pick, the decision is made for you. If you have a top-3 pick and Connor McDavid is somehow available, you smash the “draft” button. He is the single greatest fantasy asset in the National Hockey League.

Why he’s the ultimate foundation:
Ceiling is the Roof: He competes for the Art Ross Trophy (scoring title) and Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP) every single year. A 150-point season is always in play.
Category King: He fills every offensive category: goals, assists, points, Power Play points, shots on goal, and often a strong plus/minus given the Oilers' offensive firepower.
Durability: He plays almost every game and logs massive minutes in all situations.

Action Item: If you pick in the top 3, plan your entire draft around building a supporting cast for McDavid. If you pick later, you likely won’t get him, so move to Step 2.

Step 2: Strategically Target Leon Draisaitl

If you missed out on Captain Connor, all is not lost. Leon Draisaitl is a top-5 fantasy player in his own right. The strategy here depends heavily on your draft position and league format.

The Pivot Strategy:
If you picked McDavid first overall, getting Draisaitl with your second pick is a dream scenario that’s rarely possible. Don’t reach too far and cripple your roster elsewhere.
If you didn’t get McDavid, Draisaitl becomes your primary target. He is a perennial 50-goal, 120-point threat who is the focal point of his own line and the number-one Power Play unit. He’s a center who plays like a power forward, contributing heavily in shots.

Action Item: In the first round, if Draisaitl is available when it’s your turn, he is almost always the correct pick. He provides a similar foundational upside.

Step 3: Identify the Supporting Cast Value

This is where you win your draft. The Oilers' elite top-end talent creates massive opportunities for other players. Don’t sleep on them.

Tier A: The Elite Wingers
These players benefit directly from playing with the two superstars.
Zach Hyman: A fantasy gem. He parks in front of the net on the top PP unit and plays with either McDavid or Draisaitl at even strength. He’s a lock for 35+ goals, 300+ shots, and a ton of tip-in/rebound goals. Draft him as a high-end winger.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: The quiet superstar. As the third wheel on the top Power Play, he consistently flirts with 100 points. He contributes across categories and is often undervalued in drafts. A fantastic pick in the middle rounds.

Tier B: The High-Upside Plays
Evander Kane: When healthy, he provides a unique blend of goals, penalty minutes, and hits. He’s a multi-category monster who gets top-six minutes.
Warren Foegele/Corey Perry (etc.): Keep an eye on training camp battles. Whoever secures a top-six role alongside a superstar becomes an instant late-round target for goals and plus/minus. Connor Brown, if he finds chemistry, could be a deep-league speed and shorthanded points option.

Action Item: In rounds 3-8, prioritize Hyman or Nugent-Hopkins if they fit your team needs. Monitor camp reports for wingers lining up with the big guns.

Step 4: Evaluate the Goaltending Situation with Stuart Skinner

Goaltending is voodoo, but Stuart Skinner provides a relatively stable floor for fantasy. The Oilers are built to win games 4-3, not 2-1.

The Skinner Assessment:
Pros: He will get a ton of Wins because of the team in front of him. The Oilers are a top regular-season team in the Western Conference. He’s the clear, undisputed starter.
Cons: His Goals Against Average (GAA) and Save Percentage (SV%) are often just “good,” not elite. He may not steal you weeks in those categories single-handedly.

Action Item: Do NOT reach for Skinner as a top-5 fantasy goalie. Target him as a strong #2 goalie on your fantasy team who will pile up wins. If your league heavily weights wins, his value rises. For a complete look at when the team plays, check our /oilers-game-schedule-tickets-guide.

Step 5: Factor in the Intangibles: Playoffs & Coaching

This is the advanced class. Winning your fantasy league often comes down to planning for the entire season.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs Punt (A Risky Move):
The Oilers are a lock for the postseason. If your fantasy league runs through the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs, their players have extra value. However, if your fantasy playoffs coincide with the end of the NHL regular season (weeks 22-25), be cautious. Head coach Kris Knoblauch may rest key stars like McDavid or Draisaitl in the final week if the Oilers' seeding is locked. It’s a small risk, but something to note.

The System Under Knoblauch:
Since Knoblauch took over, the Oilers have been an offensive juggernaut with improved structure. This system is fantasy-friendly. It emphasizes offensive creativity and a lethal Power Play. Bet on the system continuing to produce elite numbers.

Action Item: If your league includes the NHL playoffs, Oilers gain value. In standard leagues, note the potential for late-season rest.

Pro Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Reach for a Defenseman: Evan Bouchard is a fantastic real-life and fantasy defenseman (especially for points and PP assists). But he often gets drafted too early because of the Oilers' hype. Let someone else overpay. There is value in later rounds on defense.
Avoid the Homer Trap: It’s easy to load up on too many Oilers. Diversify your roster. If the team hits a slump, your fantasy team shouldn’t completely tank with it.
Watch the Power Play Units: The entire first unit (McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Bouchard) is gold. Any change to this unit in preseason is major news. That’s why staying updated via /oilers-latest-news-stories is key.
Remember: It’s a Marathon: Don’t panic if you don’t get McDavid. A well-rounded team that nails mid-round picks (like Hyman) can easily beat a team with McDavid but weak depth.
Historical Context is Fun, But Focus on Now: While comparing Connor McDavid vs Wayne Gretzky stats is a fascinating debate for legacy, it doesn’t help your draft today. Focus on current projections and role.

Your Quick-Fire Draft Day Checklist

Print this out or keep it on a second screen. This is your at-a-glance guide.

• Step 1: Secure Connor McDavid if you have a top-3 pick. Build your team around him.


• Step 2: Target Leon Draisaitl in the 1st round if you missed McDavid. He’s a foundational star.


• Step 3: Mine for Value in the Middle Rounds. Prioritize Zach Hyman (goals, shots) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (all-around points). Watch for wingers winning top-six jobs.


• Step 4: Draft Stuart Skinner as a Strong #2 Goalie for Wins, but don’t overpay expecting elite ratios.


• Step 5: Consider the Schedule. Note the Oilers are a playoffs team (good for full-season leagues) but beware potential late-season rest for stars.


• AVOID: Over-drafting Oilers defensemen. Diversify your roster beyond just one team.

Follow this checklist, stay flexible, and you’ll leave your draft with a powerful, balanced team ready to compete for a fantasy championship. Good luck, and let’s go Oilers