For Mathieu Joseph, the work is never over.
Even coming off the ice for Thursday’s morning skate, the 29-year-old forward was busy strategizing with linemates Alex Formenton and Owen Michaels in the dressing room. The defending champion Carolina Hurricanes were in town, and Joseph wanted to make sure his guys knew what to expect.
He’s grown into a critical piece of this Edmonton Oilers team, holding down a third line that doesn’t have a ton of experience on it. Joseph has been an NHL player for the better part of nine seasons, winning two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021.
Compare that to a rookie in Michaels and Formenton, who hadn’t played in the NHL since 2022; there wasn’t much of a choice for Joseph.
“I think I have a little more experience than these two,” Joseph told Offside in an exclusive interview on Thursday. “I think they’re both very, very good hockey players… Hopefully they can learn a little bit from my experience.
“We’re all trying to do the same thing and be a good fit for the team and help the team win… I’m trying to bring my experience to that line.”
Back-to-back games with goals for Mojo 🚨🚨 #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/gEw6Kvx0IF
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 21, 2026
Consistency is key
In training camp, Joseph told reporters that he’d “work his balls off” in any spot that the coaching staff wanted him. 10 games into the season, it seems Oilers head coach Mike Babcock has found him a consistent role.
That third line has been together for just about the entire season so far, and they’re finding success. Joseph already has two goals and five points, putting him on pace for a career-high 42-point season.
“It’s fun to have a little bit of reps together. It takes time to get going with the same guys sometimes,” Joseph said. “I’m just trying to have an impact in the game. I just want to be good on the walls and be reliable on both sides of the ice.
“I feel if our line does our job defensively it gives a chance for our team to win every night.”
Mathieu Joseph turns on the jets and scores his FIRST GOAL with the Oilers to make it 3-0 Edmonton 👀🚨 pic.twitter.com/YmFwWxDgP4
— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) October 18, 2026
Work is far from over
Joseph was brought to Edmonton to add speed to the bottom-six and help out the penalty kill. He’s put an emphasis on his defensive game as well.
Early success is great, but he isn’t satisfied. Though Joseph has exceeded expectations for the Oilers so far, he noted several areas of his game that still need work.
“You can’t get to the playoffs in the first three weeks of the season,” Joseph said. “I think I’ve been good in the d-zone, but I think I can be better… I think if I play good defence, I’ll create some turnovers, and I can use my speed with [Formenton] and [Michaels] and we can create some stuff.
“If you lose, then you watch the tape and get better. If you win, you watch the tape and get better.”
Babcock pushing the right buttons
The coaching staff has also played a big role.
Depth players not getting enough of a defined role was a major talking point last season. Nobody outside of the top guns seemed to have a clearly defined role, and that eventually led to the team struggling to get much out of the bottom of the lineup.
Babcock was brought in to change that, and Joseph says the experience with the veteran coach has been a positive one so far.
“I really like the communication that he’s been having with players,” Joseph said. “He’s a very passionate coach, and I feel like he’s fair. You do what he’s asked for, and you play in his system, and you’ll get rewarded.
“He tries to find a role for everybody, and he knows everybody is important. I think he treats everyone with a lot of respect. I’ve liked working for him and with him so far.”
Mathieu Joseph with a HUGE hug for Devon Levi 🫂 pic.twitter.com/R7tzKx4N1r
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 8, 2026
Joseph also mentioned his experience playing under DJ Smith with the LA Kings last season influenced his decision to sign with Edmonton.
The Oilers will need every player pulling on the same rope, and Joseph seems to have a firm grip on what he’s expected to bring to the table.