For two straight seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, but in the 2026 post-season, it was clear that all of that hockey caught up to them, as they were swiftly eliminated in round one by the Anaheim Ducks. In that series, Edmonton just couldn't keep up with their Pacific Division rivals, and given Anaheim's game plan against a worn down team, they ended up putting together a very dominant series.
It's expected that the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will use this extra time off to rest and recover, but that isn't the case for everyone on this very disappointed Oilers team. Following the disappointment, it was announced by TSN's Darren Dreger that both Evan Bouchard and Darnell Nurse have been added to Team Canada's roster for the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
While the Stanley Cup Playoffs didn't go the way that the Oilers hoped, the regular season was full of success, with Bouchard especially putting together the best season in his career to date. Across 80 games, Bouchard tallied 21 goals and 95 points, paired with an impressive +25 differential, with the expectation that he could be top-five in Norris Trophy voting this season.
As for Nurse, the criticism has been constant over the past few years, with Oilers fans especially frustrated at his level of play given the massive 8-year, $74 million deal he signed ahead of the 2022-23 season.
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While he improved with the acquisition of Connor Murphy, Nurse has topped 35 points just once since signing that long-term extension, and with a -12 differential this past season, it's clear to see why he consistently draws the ire of Oilers fans.
Still, Team Canada needs offense from their blue line as well as experience, with both Nurse and Bouchard bringing plenty of that on top of the chemistry that playing together for years brings. The roster has not yet officially been finalized ahead of the tournament that begins May 15th, but with the addition of Nurse and Bouchard to a roster that's led by John Tavares, Mark Scheifele and Robert Thomas among others, Canada will be a favorite once more.
