September has arrived, and with it comes the start of regular season hockey this month. For the Edmonton Oilers, that means a fresh shot at a championship push after coming up short in two of the past three seasons, including back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final. The organization has made several changes and is hoping those moves finally lead to its first Stanley Cup since 1990.
There’s also been a notable departure off the ice. Tony Brar, a longtime Oilers reporter and a familiar presence for fans at Rogers Place, said on social media that he is leaving the organization after eight years.
“The best eight years of my life.
On August 20, 2018, I walked into this organization as a wide-eyed reporter who was set to live out a childhood dream.
Today, I leave having lived something much greater.
I leave as a man who was given opportunities he couldn’t even dream of.… pic.twitter.com/tvMQmIXyKv
- Tony Brar 🚀 (@TonyBrarOTV) August 31, 2026”
There was no word on who will take Brar’s place or where he’s headed next.
On the injury front, the Oilers said Matthew Savoie, Mattias Janmark, Alec Regula, and Frederik Andersen are dealing with issues that will keep them out of training camp. The team explained, “Both Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula continue to recover from medical procedures performed last season and shortly after the season concluded, respectively, while Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen are currently rehabilitating injuries which occurred during off-season training sessions.”
At this point, there are no additional timelines for when those players will return. For now, there doesn’t appear to be much concern that any of the absences will stretch into something long-term.
Those injuries could open the door for a few younger or less established names. General manager Stan Bowman pointed to Isaac Howard, Quinn Hutson, and Josh Samanski as players who may get a better chance to make their case for a regular role. He also mentioned Aku Raty and Eduards Tralmaks as AHL players who could earn a longer look in camp.
With that in mind, the Oilers seem likely to keep their options in-house rather than chase PTOs or add another free agent contract.
Frederik Andersen’s absence also creates an early opening for Devon Levi, who will get a chance to show what he can do in a tandem with Tristan Jarry. The expectation is that the two will split starts until one of them separates himself from the other.
Once Andersen is back, Edmonton will return to a three-goalie setup. But if Levi settles in as a reliable option and Jarry struggles to find his game, the Oilers could eventually shift to Levi and Andersen as their trusted pairing, with Jarry sliding into the third spot.
Edmonton opens the 2026-27 season on September 29 against the Vancouver Canucks, hoping to start strong under a new coaching staff and with an almost brand new lineup.
In Other News...
Connor McDavid Just Gave Oilers Fans A Different Reason To Believe
Connor McDavid has spent part of his summer training in Muskoka, Ont., and the story coming out of that work is less about skating drills or conditioning than the way he carried himself away from the rink. A mental health advocate and skills coach shared a personal account that painted McDavid as humble and steady in a setting where reputation usually gets built as much by small interactions as by highlight plays.
It arrives at an interesting time for Oilers fans, with summer training winding down and McDavid heading toward his 12th NHL season in Edmonton. Any fresh glimpse into his leadership matters because the conversation around him has not always been limited to points and trophies, and this latest reminder offers a different lens on what he brings to the room as the Oilers keep chasing the finish they want. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Hyman Faces An Oilers Question Fans Have Avoided
Zach Hyman has been one of the most reliable pieces of the Oilers forward group since signing his seven-year deal ahead of the 2021-22 season, and his value has been obvious in the way he has powered the offense year after year. The 54-goal breakout in 2023-24 cemented just how important he has become to Edmontons attack, giving the club a top-line threat who fits the style it wants to play.
The question now is less about what Hyman has meant than how long that level can hold. He has already dealt with a wrist injury in the postseason that carried over into the next year, and any conversation about his future has to account for the natural wear that comes with time and a tough injury history. For the Oilers, that makes his next stretch of seasons worth watching closely, even if the concern is still more projection than certainty. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Face A Tough Blue Line Decision With Spencer Stastney
Spencer Stastneys spot on the blue line has become one of the quieter but more important roster questions for the Oilers as they sort out the defense picture for the 2026-27 season. Acquired from Nashville for a 2027 third-round pick, Stastney spent last season in Edmonton and appeared in 36 games, mostly in a third-pairing role, but his ice time was squeezed as the group around him got deeper and the team kept adding options.
Now the issue is less about what Stastney can do than where he fits. Edmonton is carrying a crowded defense group, and once the club trims the roster to its preferred mix, someone has to be moved out of the conversation. If Stastney does not crack the final group, the next step could force the Oilers into a difficult decision on whether to keep him in the organization or risk losing him in a more active market. [Read more 🡒]