If you think the Edmonton Oilers can win the Stanley Cup without a player like Evander Kane or someone with similar “Double F” attributes, you’re likely being overly optimistic. The Oilers have come close to winning the Cup twice in the last two decades, reaching Game 7 in both the 2006 and 2024 playoffs. A key factor in those deep runs was having players who brought both functionality and ferocity to the ice.
So, what exactly is a “Double F” player—Functional and Ferocious? You’ve probably heard about teams needing “functional toughness,” but Double F players take that a step further. These players are not just physically tough but can also contribute at a high level while dishing out punishment and standing up to opponents.
While the Oilers have added some functional toughness this year, they may still fall short of what’s required. The team has been guilty of lacking aggressive, capable players in past seasons. This year, they’ve bolstered their physicality with the acquisition of defenseman Josh Brown, one of the NHL’s top hitters from Arizona, and forward Vasily Podkolzin, who showed his physical prowess with Vancouver. However, neither player is expected to crack the top lines or defensive pairings, meaning their impact may be limited.
On the brighter side, Edmonton boasts a solid group of tough, functional players. Stars like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Zach Hyman, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mattias Ekholm bring skill and grit, while secondary players like Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Corey Perry, and potentially newcomer Ty Emberson add further physicality.
Still, having just functional toughness isn’t enough to win the Cup. To go all the way, the Oilers need players who can excel on a top line or pairing while playing a ferocious style of hockey. In 2006, the Oilers had players like Raffi Torres, Ethan Moreau, and the intimidating Chris Pronger, whose presence made every player around him tougher. In 2024, Kane filled that role, delivering huge hits and dominating on both ends of the ice.
But now Kane is sidelined indefinitely with core surgery. His physicality was crucial in past playoff series, and without him, the Oilers lack that essential Double F element. Whether Kane will be back to his old form by the 2025 playoffs remains a significant question mark.
While the Oilers are deeper and tougher than most teams they’ve fielded in the McDavid era, losing Kane, combined with the departure of hard-hitting Dylan Holloway to St. Louis, leaves the team without a clear Double F replacement. Darnell Nurse is perhaps the only player who could step into that role, but injuries have diminished his physical game, and his effectiveness remains uncertain.
Unless Kane returns in top form and Nurse finds his groove, the Oilers’ chances of winning the Stanley Cup this year are slim. Adding players like Brown and Podkolzin helps, but it’s unlikely they’ll make a significant enough impact to carry the team over the top.
The Oilers are a talented team with plenty of skill, but without a ferocious, high-functioning player to anchor their toughness, their Cup hopes face some steep challenges. Whether Kane recovers and Nurse reclaims his form could be the deciding factors in Edmonton’s fate this season. But for now, the Oilers are left with more questions than answers.
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