Wayne Gretzky has expressed the utmost confidence in the Edmonton Oilers as they enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Oilers may have had a see-saw season but that hasn’t deterred ‘The Great One’ from making Edmonton his pick to go all the way to the top of the food chain in the postseason, powered by Connor McDavid, who has once again put on his cape just in time.
Following a strong regular-season finish that showed improved depth, scoring, and the return of key players, the Oilers are seen as a championship-ready contender, at least by Gretzky.
Wayne Gretzky Backs Connor McDavid’s Oilers for Deep 2026 Stanley Cup Run
Gretzky has not backed away from his confidence in McDavid and the Oilers, even during stretches when the team struggled earlier in the season. Speaking on an NHL on TNT segment, Gretzky explained that his outlook in the Western Conference has remained the same, pointing to Edmonton as a serious contender to reach the later rounds.
“Well, I haven’t wavered too much in the West. And you guys know, even when Edmonton was struggling, I had picked Edmonton,” Gretzky said, making it clear his belief never wavered.
He added that he expects Edmonton and Colorado to meet deep in the playoffs, noting, “I think Edmonton and Colorado are going to get to the semifinal… I like Edmonton to get to that semifinal.”
The Oilers appear to be trending in that direction after a 6-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks to close the regular season. Matt Savoie scored all three of his goals in the first period for his first NHL hat trick, while McDavid recorded four assists and drove play throughout the night. The performance also secured second place in the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage in the opening round against the Anaheim Ducks.
Gretzky pointed to key factors that could define Edmonton’s playoff ceiling, especially the health of its core players. “For some reason, I’m not just being biased. I think a healthy Draisaitl [Leon] and a healthy Hyman [Zach] make them a better team,” he said. He also highlighted improved goaltending, adding that the team “seem[s] to be getting strong goaltending right now.”
Edmonton enters this postseason with recent scars, having lost in the Stanley Cup Final in both 2024 and 2025 to the Florida Panthers. That experience, however, may now serve as an advantage rather than a setback. This group has faced high-pressure situations and shown it can compete deep into June, even pushing a series to Game 7 in one of those runs.
McDavid finished the season with 138 points to claim his sixth Art Ross Trophy, tying Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe for second-most in league history. His late-season surge helped separate him from the field and reestablish his position at the top of the scoring race.
Looking at the broader playoff picture, Gretzky also identified Carolina and Tampa Bay as strong teams in the Eastern Conference. The NHL legend is looking “for a Carolina and Tampa Bay final in the East.” Still, when it came to the West, his stance remained firm.
“I really like Edmonton still to come out of the West,” Gretzky said, reinforcing his belief that this could be the year the Oilers take the next step.
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