2020–21 Edmonton Oilers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	2020–21
Year:	2020
Team:	Edmonton Oilers
Division:	North
Divisionrank:	2nd
Record:	35–19–2
Homerecord:	16–12–0
Roadrecord:	19–7–2
Goalsfor:	183
Goalsagainst:	154
Generalmanager:	Ken Holland
Coach:	Dave Tippett
Captain:	Connor McDavid
Altcaptain:	Leon Draisaitl Adam Larsson Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Darnell Nurse
Arena:	Rogers Place
Minorleague:	Bakersfield Condors (AHL) Wichita Thunder (ECHL)
Goalsleader:	Connor McDavid (33)
Assistsleader:	Connor McDavid (72)
Pointsleader:	Connor McDavid (105)
Plusminusleader:	Leon Draisaitl (+29)
Pimleader:	Darnell Nurse (57)
Winsleader:	Mike Smith (21)
Gaaleader:	Mike Smith (2.31)

The 2020–21 Edmonton Oilers season was the 42nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 49th season overall, including their play in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers made the playoffs for the second straight year after being eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in the qualifying round of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Due to the Canada–U.S. border restrictions brought in as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oilers were re-aligned with the other six Canadian franchises into the newly formed North Division. The league's 56 game season was played entirely within the new divisions, meaning that Edmonton and the other Canadian teams played an all-Canadian schedule for the 2020–21 regular season as well as the first two rounds of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On May 3, 2021, the Oilers clinched a playoff berth after they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5–3.^[1] They were swept in the first round by the Winnipeg Jets, with a 4-3 triple overtime loss in game four on May 24.

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.^[2]

2020–21 game log
January: 5–6–0 (Home: 3–4–0 ; Road: 2–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 January 13 5–3 Edmonton 0 0–1–0 0 ^[3] 2 January 14 Vancouver 2–5 Edmonton Koskinen 0 1–1–0 2 ^[4] 3 January 16 5–1 Edmonton Koskinen 0 1–2–0 2 ^[5] 4 January 18 Montreal 3–1 Edmonton Koskinen 0 1–3–0 2 ^[6] 5 January 20 Edmonton 3–1 Koskinen 0 2–3–0 4 ^[7] 6 January 22 Edmonton 2–4 Toronto Koskinen 0 2–4–0 4 ^[8] 7 January 24 Edmonton 4–3 Koskinen 0 3–4–0 6 ^[9] 8 January 26 Edmonton 4–6 Winnipeg Koskinen 0 3–5–0 6 ^[10] 9 January 28 Toronto 4–3 Edmonton Koskinen 0 3–6–0 6 ^[11] 10 January 30 Toronto 3–4 Edmonton OT Koskinen 0 4–6–0 8 ^[12] 11 January 31 5–8 Edmonton 0 5–6–0 10 ^[13]
February: 9–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 6–1–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 February 2 2–4 Edmonton 0 6–6–0 12 ^[14] 13 February 6 Edmonton 4–6 Koskinen 0 6–7–0 12 ^[15] 14 February 8 Edmonton 3–1 Ottawa 0 7–7–0 14 ^[16] 15 February 9 Edmonton 3–2 Ottawa Koskinen 0 8–7–0 16 ^[17] 16 February 11 Edmonton 3–0 Smith 0 9–7–0 18 ^[18] 17 February 15 6–5 Edmonton Koskinen 0 9–8–0 18 ^[19] 18 February 17 Winnipeg 2–3 Edmonton Smith 0 10–8–0 20 ^[20] 19 February 19 Edmonton 2–1 Calgary Smith 0 11–8–0 22 ^[21] 20 February 20 Calgary 1–7 Edmonton Koskinen 0 12–8–0 24 ^[22] 21 February 23 Edmonton 4–3 Smith 0 13–8–0 26 ^[23] 22 February 25 Edmonton 3–0 Vancouver Smith 0 14–8–0 28 ^[24] 23 February 27 4–0 Edmonton Smith 0 14–9–0 28 ^[25]
March: 8–5–1 (Home: 6–2–0 ; Road: 2–3–1) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 March 1 3–0 Edmonton 0 14–10–0 28 ^[26] 25 March 3 Toronto 6–1 Edmonton 0 14–11–0 28 ^[27] 26 March 6 2–3 Edmonton Smith 0 15–11–0 30 ^[28] 27 March 8 2–3 Edmonton Koskinen 0 16–11–0 32 ^[29] 28 March 10 Ottawa 1–7 Edmonton Smith 0 17–11–0 34 ^[30] 29 March 12 Ottawa 2–6 Edmonton Smith 0 18–11–0 36 ^[31] 30 March 13 Edmonton 1–2 Koskinen 0 18–12–0 36 ^[32] 31 March 15 Edmonton 3–4 Calgary Smith 0 18–13–0 36 ^[33] 32 March 17 Edmonton 7–3 Calgary Smith 0 19–13–0 38 ^[34] 33 March 18 1–2 Edmonton Koskinen 0 20–13–0 40 ^[35] 34 March 20 Winnipeg 2–4 Edmonton Smith 0 21–13–0 42 ^[36] — March 22 Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19.^[37] Rescheduled for March 30.^[38] — March 24 Edmonton Montreal Postponed due to COVID-19.^[39] Rescheduled for May 10. — March 26 Edmonton Montreal Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for May 12.^[40] 35 March 27 Edmonton 3–4 Toronto OT Smith 0 21–13–1 43 ^[41] 36 March 29 Edmonton 3–2 Toronto OT Smith 0 22–13–1 45 ^[42] 37 March 30 Edmonton 0–4 Montreal Koskinen 0 22–14–1 45 ^[43]
April: 7–3–1 (Home: 2–1–0 ; Road: 5–1–1) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 April 2 2–3 Edmonton 0 23–14–1 47 ^[44] — April 3 Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19.^[45] Rescheduled for May 6.^[46] 39 April 5 Edmonton 2–3 OT Smith 0 23–14–2 48 ^[47] 40 April 7 Edmonton 4–2 0 24–14–2 50 ^[48] 41 April 8 Edmonton 3–1 Ottawa Smith 0 25–14–2 52 ^[49] 42 April 10 Edmonton 0–5 Calgary Smith 0 25–15–2 52 ^[50] — April 12 Vancouver Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for May 8. — April 14 Vancouver Edmonton Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for May 15. — April 16 Edmonton Vancouver Postponed due to COVID-19.^[51] Rescheduled for May 3. 43 April 17 Edmonton 3–0 Smith 0 26–15–2 54 ^[52] 44 April 19 Montreal 1–4 Edmonton Smith 0 27–15–2 56 ^[53] 45 April 21 Montreal 4–3 Edmonton Smith 0 27–16–2 56 ^[54] 46 April 26 Edmonton 6–1 Winnipeg Smith 0 28–16–2 58 ^[55] 47 April 28 Edmonton 3–1 Winnipeg Koskinen 0 29–16–2 60 ^[56] 48 April 29 Calgary 3–1 Edmonton Smith 0 29–17–2 60 ^[57]
May: 6–2–0 (Home: 2–2–0 ; Road: 4–0–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 49 May 1 1–4 Edmonton 0 30–17–2 62 ^[58] 50 May 3 Edmonton 5–3 0 31–17–2 64 ^[59] 51 May 4 Edmonton 4–1 Vancouver Smith 0 32–17–2 66 ^[60] 52 May 6 Vancouver 6–3 Edmonton Koskinen 0 32–18–2 66 ^[61] 53 May 8 Vancouver 3–4 Edmonton Smith 0 33–18–2 68 ^[62] 54 May 10 Edmonton 4–3 OT Koskinen 0 34–18–2 70 ^[63] 55 May 12 Edmonton 4–3 Montreal OT Smith 0 35–18–2 72 ^[64] 56 May 15 Vancouver 4–1 Edmonton Koskinen 0 35–19–2 72 ^[65]
Legend:

Playoffs

See main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
North Division first round vs. (N3) Winnipeg Jets: Winnipeg won 4–0 Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Series Recap 1 May 19 Winnipeg 4–1 Edmonton 0–1 ^[66] 2 May 21 Winnipeg 1–0 Edmonton OT Smith 0–2 ^[67] 3 May 23 Edmonton 4–5 Winnipeg OT Smith 0–3 ^[68] 4 May 24 Edmonton 3–4 Winnipeg 3OT Smith 0–4 ^[69]
Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular season^[70]

Player					data-sort-type="number"
	56	33	72	105	+21	20
	56	31	53	84	+29	22
	56	8	40	48	+4	10
	56	16	20	36	+27	57
	52	16	19	35	−4	22
	55	15	10	25	+6	16
	52	8	13	21	+9	26
	45	9	7	16	−10	33
	48	9	6	15	−3	2
	52	7	6	13	+2	37
	40	3	8	11	−1	42
	29	5	5	10	−2	11
	56	4	6	10	+2	24
	38	5	4	9	−4	6
	30	3	6	9	0	6
	35	0	9	9	0	8
	43	2	6	8	−1	14
	27	2	3	5	−4	15
	27	2	3	5	−11	10
	14	2	3	5	−2	2
	33	0	4	4	−7	6
	34	2	1	3	−6	10
	8	0	2	2	0	0
	19	0	2	2	0	9
^†	10	0	2	2	+1	2
	18	1	0	1	−7	2
	10	0	1	1	−2	0
	9	0	0	0	−2	4

Playoffs^[71]

Player					data-sort-type="number"
	4	2	3	5	−2	2
	4	1	3	4	−2	0
	4	1	1	2	−2	0
	4	1	1	2	0	0
	4	1	1	2	0	0
	4	0	2	2	−4	2
	4	1	0	1	−2	6
	3	1	0	1	−2	0
	2	0	1	1	−2	0
	4	0	1	1	0	0
	4	0	1	1	0	2
	4	0	1	1	+1	0
	4	0	1	1	−2	2
	3	0	0	0	−1	2
	2	0	0	0	0	0
	1	0	0	0	0	0
	2	0	0	0	−1	0
	4	0	0	0	−4	2
	3	0	0	0	−3	0
	4	0	0	0	−1	0
	2	0	0	0	0	0
	2	0	0	0	0	4

Goaltenders

Regular season^[72]

Player
	32	30	1,846:33	21	6	2	71	2.31	921	.923	3	0	2	6
	26	25	1,437:39	13	13	0	76	3.17	756	.899	0	0	2	0
	1	1	59:41	1	0	0	5	5.03	38	.868	0	0	0	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Oilers. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.
^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Oilers only.

Awards and honours

Milestones

Regular season

Player	Milestone	data-sort-type="date"	Reached
	100th NHL game	January 16, 2021
	1st NHL game 1st NHL win	January 31, 2021
	1st NHL assist 1st NHL point	February 6, 2021
	40th NHL shutout	February 11, 2021
	500th NHL point	February 17, 2021
	600th NHL win (coach)	February 17, 2021
	100th NHL assist	February 19, 2021

Transactions

The Oilers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2020–21 season.

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
	To San Jose Sharks 3rd-round pick in 2020	To Edmonton Oilers 4th-round pick in 2020 5th-round pick in 2020
	To New Jersey Devils 4th-round pick in 2022	To Edmonton Oilers Dmitri Kulikov
	To Chicago Blackhawks Caleb Jones Conditional 3rd-round pick in 2022	To Edmonton Oilers Duncan Keith Tim Söderlund
	To Carolina Hurricanes Dylan Wells	To Edmonton Oilers Future considerations

Free agents

Date	Player	Team	Contract term	Ref
			2-year
			1-year
			1-year
			2-year
			1-year
			1-year
		from Nashville Predators	2-year
			1-year
		to Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL)	1-year
		to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)	1-year
			1-year
		to Florida Everblades (ECHL)	1-year
			1-year
			1-year
		to ERC Ingolstadt (DEL)	1-year
		to Buffalo Sabres	1-year
		to San Diego Gulls (AHL)	1-year
			1-year
		to Färjestad BK (SHL)	6-year
		to Bakersfield Condors (AHL)	1-year
		to EHC Biel (NL)	5-year

Signings

Date	Player	Contract term	Ref
		2-year
		1-year
		1-year
		1-year
		2-year
		3-year
		2-year
		3-year
		3-year
		2-year
		2-year
		8-year

Draft picks

See also: List of Edmonton Oilers draft picks. Below are the Edmonton Oilers' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

Round		Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	14	Dylan Holloway	C	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
4	100	Carter Savoie	LW	Canada	Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
5	126	Tyler Tullio	C/RW	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
5	138	Maxim Beryozkin	LW	Russia	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)
6	169	Filip Engaras	C	Sweden	University of New Hampshire (Hockey East)
7	200	Jeremias Lindewall	LW	Sweden	Modo Hockey (HockeyAllsvenskan)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oilers clinch playoff berth, McDavid at 91 points in win against Canucks . NHL.com . May 3, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
2. Web site: 2020-21 NHL schedule announced . NHL.com . December 23, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
3. Web site: Vancouver Canucks - Edmonton Oilers - January 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
4. Web site: Vancouver Canucks - Edmonton Oilers - January 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
5. Web site: Montréal Canadiens - Edmonton Oilers - January 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
6. Web site: Montréal Canadiens - Edmonton Oilers - January 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
7. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Toronto Maple Leafs - January 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
8. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Toronto Maple Leafs - January 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
9. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - January 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
10. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - January 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
11. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs - Edmonton Oilers - January 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
12. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs - Edmonton Oilers - January 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
13. Web site: Ottawa Senators - Edmonton Oilers - January 31st, 2021. NHL.com.
14. Web site: Ottawa Senators - Edmonton Oilers - February 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
15. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames - February 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
16. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Ottawa Senators - February 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
17. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Ottawa Senators - February 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
18. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Montréal Canadiens - February 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
19. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - February 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
20. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - February 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
21. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames - February 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
22. Web site: Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - February 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
23. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Vancouver Canucks - February 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
24. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Vancouver Canucks - February 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
25. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs - Edmonton Oilers - February 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
26. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs - Edmonton Oilers - March 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
27. Web site: Toronto Maple Leafs - Edmonton Oilers - March 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
28. Web site: Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - March 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
29. Web site: Ottawa Senators - Edmonton Oilers - March 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
30. Web site: Ottawa Senators - Edmonton Oilers - March 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
31. Web site: Ottawa Senators - Edmonton Oilers - March 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
32. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Vancouver Canucks - March 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
33. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames - March 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
34. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames - March 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
35. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - March 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
36. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - March 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
37. Web site: Oilers-Canadiens game postponed because of COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . March 22, 2021 . March 22, 2021.
38. Web site: NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule . NHL.com . March 28, 2021 . March 28, 2021.
39. Web site: NHL postpones Canadiens games through March 28 due to COVID-19 protocols . Sportsnet.ca . March 23, 2021 . March 23, 2021.
40. Web site: NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule . NHL.com . April 16, 2021 . April 16, 2021.
41. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Toronto Maple Leafs - March 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
42. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Toronto Maple Leafs - March 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
43. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Montréal Canadiens - March 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
44. Web site: Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - April 2nd, 2021. NHL.com.
45. Web site: NHL postpones Canucks games through April 6 due to COVID-19 protocols . Sportsnet.ca . April 1, 2021 . April 1, 2021.
46. Web site: Vancouver Canucks to Resume Regular Season on April 16; North Division Schedule to End on May 16 . NHL.com . April 10, 2021 . April 10, 2021.
47. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Montréal Canadiens - April 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
48. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Ottawa Senators - April 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
49. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Ottawa Senators - April 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
50. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Calgary Flames - April 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
51. Web site: NHL postpones Friday's Canucks-Oilers game as Vancouver recovers from outbreak . Sportsnet.ca . April 15, 2021 . April 15, 2021.
52. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - April 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
53. Web site: Montréal Canadiens - Edmonton Oilers - April 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
54. Web site: Montréal Canadiens - Edmonton Oilers - April 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
55. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - April 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
56. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - April 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
57. Web site: Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - April 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
58. Web site: Calgary Flames - Edmonton Oilers - May 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
59. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Vancouver Canucks - May 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
60. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Vancouver Canucks - May 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
61. Web site: Vancouver Canucks - Edmonton Oilers - May 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
62. Web site: Vancouver Canucks - Edmonton Oilers - May 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
63. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Montréal Canadiens - May 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
64. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Montréal Canadiens - May 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
65. Web site: Vancouver Canucks - Edmonton Oilers - May 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
66. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - May 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
67. Web site: Winnipeg Jets - Edmonton Oilers - May 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
68. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - May 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
69. Web site: Edmonton Oilers - Winnipeg Jets - May 24th, 2021. NHL.com.
70. Web site: 2020–21 Regular Season – Edmonton Oilers Stats – Skaters . NHL.com . May 15, 2021.
71. Web site: 2020–21 Playoffs – Edmonton Oilers Stats – Skaters . NHL.com . May 25, 2021.
72. Web site: 2020–21 Regular Season – Edmonton Oilers Stats – Goalies . NHL.com . May 15, 2021.
73. Web site: 2020–21 Playoffs – Edmonton Oilers Stats – Goalies . NHL.com . May 25, 2021.