The Edmonton Oilers' front office is facing harsh criticism and a low ranking following their offseason moves. Several veteran players have departed, leading to concerns about the team's physicality and playoff experience. An NHL analyst has ranked the Oilers' front office among the worst in the league, specifically fourth-worst, according to The Athletic.

Analyst Dom Luszczyszyn suggests the team's success hinges on the performance of rookies Ike Howard and Matthew Savoie. The departure of players like Evander Kane, Viktor Arvidsson, Connor Brown, and Corey Perry has created a void in the forward depth. While Andrew Mangiapane has been added, he is coming off a less productive year. The team's ceiling is heavily dependent on how well these rookies can contribute offensively, with the hope that they can each score around 20 goals. However, concerns remain about their ability to handle the physicality of the NHL.

The Oilers' front office has historically ranked low in surveys. In a previous survey, the Oilers ranked 30th among 32 NHL teams, a significant drop attributed to the hiring of general manager Stan Bowman. Prior to that, under interim GM Jeff Jackson, the Oilers were believed by many to have won free agency with the additions of Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. The ranking reflects a lack of confidence in the front office's ability to build a Stanley Cup-winning team despite having star players like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Cap management is another area of concern. While some believe CEO Jeff Jackson has worked wonders in getting players to agree to team-friendly deals, the fact that the Oilers had limited cap space to begin with suggests potential mismanagement.

Public feedback, based on 250 responses, is more generous towards the Oilers, ranking them third in free agency. However, the front office was ranked 28th in draft and development, with the fan base ranking them even lower at 31st. Other category rankings from the public ranged between 12th and 18th. Last year, the Oilers' front office was ranked 20th among all 32 NHL teams.

One analyst noted that the Oilers' offseason moves seemed like a misstep for a team already well-positioned to win. Despite having one of the best rosters in the NHL, the fan base ranked the team low in roster building.

In a previous ranking, the Oilers' front office was placed 20th, which some considered illogical given the team's playoff success compared to other highly-ranked teams. Concerns were raised about the team's draft record.

Another analysis suggests that failing to sign Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to new contracts may have negatively impacted the Oilers' ranking.