Team

Betting

OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA

Why Oilers’ Mathieu Joseph could surprise with a bigger role than many expect this season

Photo credit: © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

By Sean Panganiban

Sep 6, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 6, 2026, 10:10 EDT

Comments

The Edmonton Oilers will welcome some fresh faces when training camp gets underway on September 16.

Despite reports indicating that netminder Frederik Andersen is expected to miss training camp and the early part of the season due to an injury, newcomers Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin will be there, ready to step into the mix on the Oilers’ blue line.

There’s also forward Mathieu Joseph, who hasn’t garnered nearly as much attention as some of the other new additions. The two-time Stanley Cup champion has played in over 400 NHL games, has a 35-point season under his belt and brings plenty of speed to the Oilers’ lineup, with plenty to prove once training camp gets underway.

With that in mind, Joseph is my sleeper pick to surprise some people by seizing a bigger role than many are expecting this season. Let’s take a look at why.

Joseph’s PK ability, Smith connection and speed equal opportunity

The Oilers won’t be bringing Adam Henrique back this upcoming season, who played the second-most shorthanded minutes among Oilers forwards last season (107:40). Curtis Lazar (24:54 PK minutes played last season) also won’t be returning, and there has been some chatter that Connor McDavid’s PK minutes could be reduced.

Because of all that, and especially after their PK was only 50% against the Anaheim Ducks last playoffs, there will be some auditions on the penalty kill, and Joseph is likely hungry to fill a spot, having excelled in a PK role throughout his career.

For example, in 2022-23 with the Ottawa Senators, despite playing only 56 games, he was second among forwards in PK ice time (140:07 minutes). Perhaps even more interesting, his head coach that season was D.J. Smith, Edmonton’s associate coach who will be running the Oilers’ PK unit.

That familiarity with the Oilers’ associate coach could give Joseph a leg up on an opportunity, as Smith is already aware of the forward’s capabilities, having previously spoken highly of the Laval, PQ native in 2023, saying, “He gives me the most consistent effort every night. He’s a really intelligent hockey player.”

Nathan "Grav" Murdock

@NathanGraviteh

·Follow

MATHIEU JOSEPH 3 ON 5 SHORTHANDED GOAL TO TAKE THE 2-1 LEAD????? 🤯

Watch on X

12:33 AM · Nov 2, 2022

255

Read 8 replies

Another example of Joseph’s extensive PK experience came during the 2023-24 season, when he ranked third among Senators forwards in PK minutes. After being traded to the St. Louis Blues, he averaged just under a minute of PK time per game in 99 total regular-season games over two seasons and in 2024-25, the Blues allowed only two goals against with Joseph on the ice while shorthanded.

Furthermore, the Oilers’ PK unit this upcoming season looks like it will emphasize applying pressure up front.

Smith spoke with Jason Gregor in June about his philosophy on the PK, saying:

“I’ve been a pressure guy my whole life. I hate sitting back, but if that’s what is going to get the job done, that’s what we’re going to do. Mike and I will sit down, and we’ll look at the best kills. But I know that the two best in the league every year is Carolina and Florida, and two years ago it was L.A. and we pressured everything that moved. When we look at the forward group and the D group and ask can we do that and then we’ll make the best plan.”

Moreover, the Oilers recently hired consultant Misha Donskov, also believes in the philosophy of applying pressure on the PK to take away the opponent’s time and space, mentioning this recently on the “Oilers Now” show:

“I do like pressure on the penalty kill. I just think with the skill of today’s player — you talk to any of the best players in the world, what do they want? They want time and space. So, as quickly as you can take that away from them and take away options, the less they’re going to have opportunities to make the next play.”

And this is where Joseph seems like the perfect PK fit.

Joseph’s anticipation and takeaway ability fit Oilers’ PK outlook

To pressure effectively on the penalty kill, players need to be able to anticipate plays and close in quickly on the opposition with good speed, both of which are strengths of Joseph.

According to NHL Edge data, last season the 29-year-old was clocked at a top speed of 22.78 m.p.h., ranking in the 77th percentile in the NHL, while his seven bursts above 22 m.p.h. placed him in the 82nd percentile.

Also, Joseph’s good anticipation is evident in his takeaway ability.

During the 2023-24 season with the Senators, Joseph played the third-most shorthanded minutes for Ottawa and led them with 12 shorthanded takeaways.

Furthermore, since the 2023-24 season, according to Natural Stat Trick, among forwards who have played a minimum of 200 minutes, Joseph ranks 12th among all NHL forwards in takeaways per 60 minutes at 2.36.

Put all of those pieces together, and Joseph looks tailor-made for the type of penalty kill the Oilers want to play this upcoming season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Smith has scribbled his name onto some hypothetical PK pairings already; because of that, I feel he’ll be an important contributor in the Oilers’ bottom six this upcoming season.

Oilers should be getting a highly motivated Joseph

It will be a tight battle for the bottom-six spots come training camp, but I feel Joseph should be highly motivated to claim a spot.

Joseph has had two down seasons with the Blues, where he seemingly couldn’t find his game. He was placed on waivers last March for contract termination and sent to the AHL. After clearing waivers and becoming an unrestricted free agent, he signed with the Los Angeles Kings for the remainder of the season, going pointless in 12 regular-season and two playoff games.

When I think of Joseph, I draw parallels to his former teammate in St. Louis and now teammate in Edmonton, Kasperi Kapanen, who had success earlier in his NHL career, got off track with the Blues, and now has a new shot in Oil Country, where the Oilers could really use his speed.

And just like Kapanen a couple of seasons ago, Joseph may also be facing a potential last opportunity to prove he can stick in the NHL. Kapanen did some soul-searching and found his game, and now Joseph will be looking to do the same.

Yet, what an opportunity Joseph has in front of him. Openings on the Oilers’ PK? Check. Playing for a former coach who knows his game? Check. Now, it’s up to Joseph to make the most of it.