Each week, we check in with our readers on social media and e-mail to see what’s on top of their mind, explore the hot topics of conversation and answer hard-hitting questions about the Edmonton Oilers. Here are some of the talking points from this past week:

Re: Gimme a ‘D’? Be careful what you wish for, Oilers fans (Oct. 6, 2026, following a 3-1 Oilers win over the Seattle Kraken)

— Kevin Hoare

I mean, the right result helps when looking back at it.

But I’m talking about the 57-and-a-half minutes from opening puck drop to when one team finally took control of this one.

Everything in between was a 1-1 tie with nary a handful of big-time saves to break up the monotony.

This is all relative, of course, to the barn burners from the previous two games, where the Oilers and Vancouver Canucks combined for 23 goals in a home-and-away series to open the season.

It went from 100 miles per hour to almost standing still from one game to the next.

Credit to the Oilers for accomplishing what they set out to do, cracking down on their own blue line and limiting scoring chances against. Not surprisingly, the flip side of that was less scoring overall — especially compared to what we had previously witnessed — and ending in a very un-Oilers-like 3-1 final score (It should be pointed out, one of those goals was an empty-netter).

If you mean it was good in a sense that the right team won in the end, then sure. But it was hardly the edge-of-your-seat style of hockey fans in Edmonton have become accustomed to watching.

Besides a highlight-reel save either way, the only other play of note was an errant pass that happened to bounce off the knee of Connor McDavid and clear across the ice to Leon Draisaitl for the putaway.

But it took an accident to break the underwhelming 1-1 tie that held for the overwhelming majority of the game.

Don’t get me wrong. Defence is an art in and of itself. But the horn doesn’t sound, the red light doesn’t flash and the fans don’t jump to their feet whenever a defenceman breaks up a 2-on-1 (Though, to the Oilers’ credit, they’ve been cutting down on that sort of thing too).

Excitement is long-bombs from the blue line on the power play, or tick-tack-toes that end up tucked underneath the crossbar.

But sleepy wins are still wins. I’ll give you that. And we know where you sit in the debate. Maybe the Oilers need a little less excitement in their game to get where they want to end up.

— Russel Burke

If that was your takeaway, then who am I to try and tell you any different?

The Oilers aren’t missing playoffs. Period. No matter what type of discussions go on throughout the city over the next six months. The question was, would a drastic shift to a completely defensive-focused game be enough to get them back to the big stage? And what price are you, as a fan, willing to give up when it comes to the high-octane offence we are used to seeing?

But read into it what you want, amigo.

Dear Gerry:

Offence? Defence? I think they should concentrate on what is their forte and that is certainly not defence.

Doesn’t mean you abandon the back end completely, but enough to keep the opposition baying at your heels while you outscore them by a couple of goals.

Doesn’t work when offence has an off night, but you won’t fall asleep in your seat.

— Helen Morgan

A happy medium, you say?

What a novel concept.

I’m sorry, but this is a fan mailbag, and we only deal with extremes here!

All kidding aside, what you propose is exactly the point I believe new head coach Mike Babcock is trying to get across in the dressing room.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. The Oilers don’t have to abandon their flat out, pedal-to-the-medal offence when the opportunity arises. But if it can be anchored in an honest, solid and consistent defensive effort, they might just find the magic formula so many of his predecessors missed throughout the Connor McDavid Era.

Now, if he could only do something about all these darn 8 p.m. start times … That would help some of us stay awake.

For a chance to appear in an upcoming edition, send your questions, concerns and comments on all things Edmonton Oilers related to:

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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