The Edmonton Oilers' defensive struggles have reached a critical point, drawing sharp criticism from hockey analysts and former NHL professionals following the team's devastating 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on November 26, 2025.
Barnaby's Blunt Assessment
Former NHL forward Matthew Barnaby didn't mince words when breaking down the Oilers' performance, labeling their defensive play as "absolutely putrid" in a detailed video analysis posted to social media. The ex-player meticulously dissected three of Dallas' first-period goals, highlighting systematic defensive failures that left goaltenders exposed.
Barnaby's online breakdown showed specific examples of turnovers, poor coverage, and sequential mistakes that led to scoring opportunities for the Stars. His analysis pointed to fundamental issues in Edmonton's defensive structure that extend beyond simple goaltending problems.
Burke Backs Up Criticism
Former NHL executive Brian Burke echoed Barnaby's concerns during an appearance on The Sheet podcast with Jeff Marek. Burke specifically addressed whether Edmonton should follow Colorado's approach of swapping goaltenders, a strategy the Avalanche employed the previous season.
"What goals should Skinner have stopped last night? Answer, none, none," Burke stated emphatically. "The breakdowns are so widespread and so sequential. One turnover, then a breakdown, then a bad coverage, and it's in the net."
Burke defended both Oilers goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, arguing that the defensive collapses in front of them made their jobs nearly impossible. He emphasized that the issues stem from a lack of commitment to defensive fundamentals rather than goaltending deficiencies.
Coaching or Execution Problem?
The former GM placed responsibility squarely on the players rather than coach Kris Knoblauch. "Does a coach wake up one morning and forget everything he learned? Did Knoblauch wake up today and say, 'I'm stupid today?' No," Burke questioned.
He expressed astonishment at suggestions that coaching failures were to blame for Edmonton's defensive woes. "It's not a coaching failure. It's a player execution failure," Burke insisted, pointing to the need for better backchecking, puck management, and defensive zone coverage.
Burke outlined specific areas where improvement is needed: tighter back checking, smarter puck decisions, deeper defensive zone coverage, and better loose puck recovery. He emphasized that these fundamental changes must come from the players themselves.
The analysis from both hockey veterans suggests that until Edmonton addresses these core defensive issues, the team will continue to struggle regardless of who tends goal. As one observer noted, "If the leaking don't stop, the Oilers won't be top."
