The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they will not be holding an Oilers Hall of Fame induction ceremony during the 2025-26 season. This marks the first time since the Hall of Fame's inception that no new members will be added. The team revealed their promotional schedule for the upcoming season, and the Oilers Hall of Fame game was noticeably absent.
In response to an inquiry on social media, the Oilers stated, "We will not be conducting a ceremony this season but we look forward to honouring more iconic members of the organization with future inductions". It is anticipated that the ceremonies will resume for the 2026-27 season.
The Oilers Hall of Fame was established in 2022 to recognize extraordinary players, coaches, trainers, staff, and executives who have contributed to the franchise. The inaugural class of 2022 included individuals who had their banners raised by the Oilers: Al Hamilton, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, Glen Sather, and Rod Phillips.
Since 2022, two individuals have been inducted each year as part of a themed game, with the induction ceremony taking place before or after the game. Lee Fogolin and Ryan Smyth were inducted in 2022, followed by Charlie Huddy and Doug Weight in 2023, and Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish in 2024. Their names are displayed on a ring above the PCL Loge Level at Rogers Place.
The Oilers Hall of Fame Selection Committee includes prominent figures such as Wayne Gretzky, Ron Low, Louie DeBrusk, Chris Joseph, Bruce MacGregor, Jim Matheson, Terry Jones, Bob Stauffer, Jason Gregor, Chief Wilton Littlechild, and Shannon Szabados. Fans have the opportunity to nominate individuals for consideration by the selection committee. Former Oilers players are eligible for nomination five years after their retirement, while non-players are eligible at any time.
The Edmonton Oilers have a rich history, dating back to their time in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in the 1970s. They joined the NHL in 1979 and became a dominant force in the 1980s, winning five Stanley Cups: 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1987-88, and 1989-90. The 1984-85 Oilers were voted the greatest NHL team of all time during the league's centennial celebrations in 2017.
