While it took me some time to recover from the heartbreaking loss to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, I finally sat down to write about my beloved Edmonton Oilers. This was my first piece for Oilersnation, and I genuinely believed that this version of the team was destined to go far and succeed. Sadly, I was wrong.

What struck me most in the first round was a simple, yet powerful observation. I coach girls’ softball, and over the past six years, I always preach one “Brentism” to my athletes: effort beats talent, if talent has no effort. I wholeheartedly believe in this, and I know my girls get tired of hearing it, but deep down, they know it’s true. A talented athlete who doesn’t put in the effort can often be outperformed by someone with less raw skill, but who works harder. I’ve seen this countless times across many sports, and I truly believe that was a key reason behind the Oilers’ downfall against the Ducks and essentially deemed a failure for the 2025-26 season.

The Oilers are a team bursting with talent — there’s no denying how exceptional they are on paper. Connor McDavid is arguably the best player in the league. Leon Draisaitl, without question, ranks easily in the top five. Evan Bouchard stands out as one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL. Zach Hyman consistently plays in the gritty, dirty areas and excels there. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a versatile, vital piece. Connor Murphy is a relentless shot-blocking machine.

I could go on for days about the incredible skill on this team. The talent runs deep. So then, what went wrong?

Injuries definitely played a big role, as we learned after the series concluded. McDavid suffered a lower-leg fracture. Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson (fracture as well) also battled injuries. The team wasn’t at full strength. But even so, I firmly believe what I’ve always believed: effort can triumph over talent when effort is missing. The 2025-26 Edmonton Oilers showed almost no effort throughout most of the season, and that attitude spilled directly into the playoffs. That simply isn’t good enough. This cannot be the way next season unfolds.

Stan Bowman faces an incredibly tough task this offseason if he remains in his position. He must step up, make the necessary changes, and rebuild this team’s drive and determination. It’s not negotiable — there’s no option but to find players whose compete level matches that of Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, and Vasily Podkolzin. And he must take a hard, honest look at his coaching staff, re-evaluate everything, and pursue a mindset of relentless improvement.

The clock is ticking — starting now. Find more effort.