For the first time since introducing a Ring of Honour to Rogers Place, the Edmonton Oilers won’t be adding any names this upcoming season.

The Oilers announced their promotional nights for the upcoming 2025-26 season Tuesday, with one notable omission, the Hall of Fame game, which in years past has seen the team add names to the Oilers Hall of Fame. The team shared on social media that day that they wouldn’t be holding a ceremony this year, but that “we look forward to honouring more iconic members of the organization with future inductions.” Ceremonies will likely return for the 2026-27 season.

It’s been held annually in each of the last three seasons, seeing the Oilers honour some of the greatest players in the franchise’s robust history without retiring their numbers. The inaugural class in 2022 featured all of the players whose numbers hang from the rafters — Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, Al Hamilton, executive Glen Sather and legendary voice of the Oilers Rod Phillips.

The first class introduced in 2022 featured Ryan Smyth and Lee Fogolin, while the 2023 class saw Charlie Huddy and Doug Weight join the group. Last year, it was Craig MacTavish and Dr. Randy Gregg getting the nod. All the players have their names inside of Rogers Place on a ring above the PCL Loge Level, separating the lower and upper bowls of the arena. The popular Hall of Fame game has included induction ceremonies with the players and their families in Rogers Place at centre ice ahead of a game.

At some point in time the Oilers and the 11-person selection committee will need to decide how many names the team decides to honour in the following years, and a year pause can allow the Hall of Fame game and its ceremony time to breath.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.