11 Best Edmonton Oilers Players of All Time

The Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL in 1979, and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact. With Wayne Gretzky leading the way, the Oilers enjoyed a glorious run in the 1980s before coming back to earth in the 1990s and 2000s. 

But things changed for the better in the middle of the 2010s thanks to the arrival of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, both of whom often find themselves near the top of the hockey odds for MVP in the modern era. With McDavid and Draisaitl leading the way, the Oilers have another golden era in their sights again.

Join me in celebrating the 11 best players in the fabled history of the Edmonton Oilers.

11 Best Edmonton Oilers Players of All Time

11 Greatest Oilers of All Time

1. Wayne Gretzky

Not only is “The Great One” the best player in the history of the Edmonton Oilers, but he is also widely considered the best player to ever set foot on an NHL rink.

Gretzky’s 1,773 points are easily the most in the Oilers’ history.

2. Connor McDavid

Only four players (Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Mike Bossy) hit the 1,000-point plateau in fewer games than McDavid. He has the second-most points in franchise history.

3. Mark Messier

Known as one of the best captains in NHL history, Mark Messier was the heartbeat of Edmonton’s roster for over a decade and won the 1984 Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Messier’s 1,887 points are the third most in NHL history.

4. Paul Coffey

A generational talent who changed the way defencemen played the game, Paul Coffey set an NHL record for goals by a defenceman with 48 in 1985-86. 

Not only does that record still stand today, but no defenceman since has even cracked the 35-goal mark in a single season.

5. Jari Kurri

One of the great wingmen in the history of hockey, Jari Kurri played Robin to Gretzky’s Batman for years. 

The elegant Finn averaged 1.38 points per game in his 10 seasons with the Oilers.

6. Leon Draisaitl

One of the most prolific goalscorers of the current generation, Leon Draisaitl has teamed up with McDavid to help spur a new golden era in Edmonton. 

Draisaitl put together three 50-goal campaigns in his first 10 seasons and won the Hart Trophy in 2019-20.

The McDavid-Draisaitl Oilers often find themselves atop the Stanley Cup odds.

7. Glenn Anderson

One of the most clutch players of his era, Glenn Anderson was a key cog for the Oilers during their most successful era. 

Anderson’s 72 game-winning goals are the most in Oilers’ history and his 214 playoff points are good enough for fourth most in NHL history.

8. Grant Fuhr

Grant Fuhr backstopped the Oilers to five Stanley Cups during the 1980s. The Alberta native was named one of the top 100 players in league history by the NHL in 2017.

9. Ryan Smyth

Nicknamed “Captain Canada,” few players wore their heart on their sleeve quite like Ryan Smyth. 

There was no better evidence than when the Oilers traded Smyth to the Islanders at the 2007 trade deadline. The decision was so emotional that Smyth broke down in tears at his farewell press conference.

Edmonton fans showed their appreciation for Smyth by giving him a rousing send-off in his final NHL game in 2014.

The rugged winger – a native of nearby Banff, Alberta – scored 236 goals and recorded 335 assists in 971 games with the Oilers.

10. Kevin Lowe

The record-holder for games played as an Oiler, Kevin Lowe also spent time as the general manager and head coach in Edmonton. 

Lowe was Edmonton’s first NHL draft pick and scored the first goal in franchise history.

11. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Although McDavid and Draisaitl may overshadow him, there’s no doubting the impact that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has had on the Oilers during his long career.

One of three players (Lowe, Smyth) to play over 900 games for the Oilers, Nugent-Hopkins has established himself as a fan favourite over the last decade.

Every time Nugent-Hopkins scores a goal or makes a big play, the fans inside Rogers Place show their appreciation with “NUUUGE!” chants.