When the Oilers were in the World Hockey Association, there was not a lot to cheer for, but the city of Edmonton supported them anyway.  One of the biggest reasons for that was Al Hamilton, their first defensive star, or realistically, their first real star period.

Bill Ranford began his career with the Boston Bruins and was traded to Edmonton when the Bruins for Geoff Courtnall and Andy Moog in 1988.  Ranford took over Moog's role as the Oilers backup Goalie, and while he did not play in the 1988 Playoffs, he did win his first Stanley Cup Ring when the Oilers won their fourth Cup.

Esa Tikkanen was one of the early stars from Finland in the National Hockey League, but what he is probably known mostly for was being one of the best (infamous) agitators in NHL history.

The first seven seasons of Jordan Eberle's career were spent in Edmonton, where the player performed well after being named by TSN, the greatest junior player in Canadian National Team history.  Eberle’s first season saw him accumulate 43 Points, which would be topped the year after with 76 Points, which was the best year he would have with the Oilers.  That year, he would finish second in Lady Byng voting and went to the All-Star Game.