Edmonton Oilers
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Edmonton Oilers, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Freddie Andersen, Devon Levi, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Ryan Shea, Alex Formenton
Key Departures: Darnell Nurse, Jack Roslovic, Calvin Pickard, Connor Ingram
Overview
Connor McDavid summed it up best after the Oilers’ first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. “We were just an average team all year with championship expectations.” The Oilers won as many games as they lost, going 41-30-11 in 2025-26. The off-season began with the Vegas Golden Knights denying permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy about taking over as head coach from Kris Knoblauch, who was set to begin the first of a three-year extension. When word got out about interest in Cassidy, the Oilers were forced to fire Knoblauch and then, in what appears to be an act of desperation, hire the controversial Mike Babcock, who stepped down in Columbus in 2023 before he ever coached a game.
Offense
It will be interesting to see how Mike Babcock manages the ice time of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl this season. McDavid led all forwards last season with an average of 22:59 time on ice, and Draisaitl, fourth overall, was close behind at 21:35. Maybe cutting McDavid’s ice time by about a minute a game will keep him fresher, especially come playoff time. The Oilers still possess one of the NHL’s most dangerous top-end offenses, capable of overwhelming opponents through skill, speed, and special teams. But for the Oilers to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, they’ll need more reliable secondary production and better five-on-five play, where they were outscored 188-174. Edmonton needs more offensive production from its bottom-six forwards, as well as getting better at limiting the opposition’s scoring chances.
Defense
For the first time in 13 seasons, Darnell Nurse will not be patrolling the Oilers blueline. The long-time Oiler was traded to San Jose along with his entire 9.25 million cap hit for defensemen Shakir Mukhamadullin and Zack Sharp. Mukhamadullin joins veterans Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Connor Murphy, and free agent Ryan Shea, who was in Pittsburgh last season. The Oilers surrendered 265 goals, the eighth-most in the league. A full season with Connor Murphy and the addition of Shea should help reduce high-danger scoring chances and improve the Oilers’ penalty kill, which finished 20th last season.
Goaltending
Despite helping to take the Oilers to back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton felt it was time to move on from Stuart Skinner and traded him mid-season to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry. Jarry was far from the solution, as the Oilers also acquired Connor Ingram from Utah, who took over the number one job. Jarry’s contract at just under $5.4 million makes him virtually impossible to move. Edmonton signed free agent Freddie Andersen to a one-year deal and traded for Devon Levi from Buffalo. Levi, twice named the top goalie in the NCAA, could never break through the crowded crease in Buffalo and spent all last season in the minors. In late August, the Oilers announced that Freddie Andersen will miss training camp due to an offseason training injury.
Player to Watch
Yes, the title says “player to watch,” but all eyes in Edmonton and in the hockey world will be on head coach Mike Babcock. Can Babcock, who coached the Detroit Red Wings to a Stanley Cup in 2008 and directed Canada to two Olympic Gold Medals, do the same for the Edmonton Oilers? Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman have all endorsed Babcock and his hard-nosed approach.
Outlook
The Oilers have been notoriously slow starters, but I expect them to come out of the gate flying under Babcock. Schedule makers did the Edmonton a favor with back-to-back games with Vancouver before hosting the Seattle Kraken. The month of October also includes winnable games against the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames. I will be keeping an eye out for their Over/Under point total for October. I also grabbed the Oilers (+425) to win the Western Conference and (+800) to win the Stanley Cup.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 104.5 (Over -115, Under -115)
To Make the Playoffs: (-1100)
Miss the Playoffs: (+650)
To Win the Division: (+160)
To Win the Western Conference: (+425)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+800)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 41-30-11
Over/Under: 45-34-3
Home Favorite: 22-16 // Home Dog: 0-2
Road Favorite: 12-14 // Road Dog: 5-8
Win Score 4 or more: 31 of 41 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 30 of 41
Puck Line Wins: 28 of 41 // Puck Line Losses: 21 of 41
Front End Back-to-Back: 4-9 // Back End Back-to-Back: 4-9
Points Leader: Connor McDavid – 138
Goal Leader: Connor McDavid – 48
Assist Leader: Connor McDavid – 90
Shots on Goal Leader: Connor McDavid – 306
Blocked Shots: Darnell Nurse – 167
Depth Chart
Forwards
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins / Connor McDavid / Zach Hyman
Vasily Podkolzin / Leon Draisaitl / Kasperi Kapanen
Colton Dach / Jason Dickinson / Trent Frederic
Isaac Howard / Josh Samanski / Mathieu Joseph
Defense
Mattias Ekholm / Evan Bouchard
Jake Walman / Connor Murphy
Ryan Shea / Shakir Mukhamadullin
Goalies
Tristan Jarry / Devon Levi / Frederik Andersen (injured)
