David Oliver was a standout forward for the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. He was an integral part of a very successful program during his time there, earning First-Team All-American honors in his senior season, 1993-94. That year, he had an impressive 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 41 games, which earned him a spot as a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. His collegiate career concluded with 205 points in 152 games.

After college, Oliver was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and went on to play professionally for 13 years. He played in 233 NHL games with five different teams, including the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars. His most productive NHL season was in 1995-96 with the Oilers, where he set a career high with 20 goals. He also spent time in the AHL, IHL, and in Europe before retiring from playing in 2007. Following his playing career, he transitioned to coaching and player development, and in 2018, he was hired as an assistant coach for the New York Rangers.