The Edmonton Oilers are heading into the 2026-27 regular season with a few big questions hanging in the air, but the worst thing they could do is rush to solve them.
That’s the trap this team has to avoid: forcing answers before the season has even had time to reveal them. Whether it’s Matt Savoie’s next contract, the search for another top-six forward, or the goaltending picture, Edmonton has options. What it doesn’t need is panic.
Take Savoie first. According to his agent Gerry Johannson, the Oilers have not opened extension talks with the young forward, and that has clearly stirred up some nerves.
It’s easy to see why. Savoie just put together a strong rookie-ish season, finishing with 37 points - 18 goals and 19 assists - in all 82 games while playing on a bargain $886,667 entry-level deal.
If he takes another step and spends the full season alongside Connor McDavid, a 20-plus goal year is on the table.
But that still doesn’t mean Edmonton has to lock him up right now. Johannson said the Oilers are in “win-now” mode, and GM Stan Bowman still needs time to sort out exactly where Savoie fits and what he ultimately is.
Savoie, meanwhile, is reportedly patient and happy in Edmonton. Waiting does carry some risk, but the sky-is-falling talk goes too far.
If he breaks out in 2026-27, his value rises - and so does the price tag. That’s not ideal, but it’s also the reality of today’s contracts.
The real danger is letting the situation sour to the point where Savoie feels undervalued, the way Dylan Holloway felt.
The same kind of patience should apply to the search for another top-six forward. Sure, another 20-plus goal scorer would help.
But Edmonton does not need to force that move in the offseason. Last year showed the Oilers can find scoring help late, with Jack Roslovic, and there’s always the trade deadline.
The smarter play is to resist the urge to spend on an aging veteran just to check a box. Better fits can emerge later, especially from teams dealing with cap trouble or fading out of the race.
That doesn’t mean the Oilers should ignore a real opportunity if one lands in their lap. It just means they shouldn’t chase a name for the sake of chasing a name.
Then there’s the crease, where Edmonton’s three-goalie setup makes the whole thing even trickier. Frederik Andersen, Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry could all matter a lot this season, but nobody should be handed the job before the competition even starts.
Andersen has ties to Babcock, but he’s older and will need his workload managed. Levi brings the most upside, though he’s still inexperienced and should be eased in.
Jarry would be the best bet to start if he rebounds, but his salary and contract cannot be the reason he gets the nod if his play doesn’t earn it.
The cleanest approach is also the simplest: leave the job open. Let all three know the position is there to be won, and let the season sort it out.
Once someone takes control, the decision will make itself. What Edmonton can’t afford is naming a starter early and then sticking with him just because that’s what was said out loud.
That kind of commitment helps nobody.
In Other News...
Oilers Rumors Put Edmontons Faith In Its Young Forwards Under Fire
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The Oilers are already working within a tight cap picture and roster constraints, so bringing in another veteran scorer would not be a small cosmetic tweak. It would look more like a judgment call on the clubs internal pipeline, a sign the front office may not be fully convinced those prospects are ready to carry more of the load. Whether Edmonton chooses to trust its young talent or make room for a more established winger, the decision is likely to say plenty about how the team views its own future. [Read more 🡒]
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That is where the intrigue comes in, because the names floating around are the kind of players that can change the conversation if Bowman decides to act. Shane Wright has been mentioned among the possible targets, along with Kirill Marchenko, and any addition of that caliber would force the Oilers to sort out a cleaner roster path on the other side, including players who could end up on waivers or squeezed off the team if everyone stays healthy. [Read more 🡒]
Connor McDavid's Next Oilers Deal Could Define Edmonton's Cup Window
Connor McDavid is still playing under the two-year, $25 million deal he signed with Edmonton, but the conversation around his next contract is already looming over the Oilers future. With the salary cap set to keep climbing and recent NHL megadeals reshaping the market, any extension would instantly become one of the leagues defining pieces of business and a major marker for where Edmonton believes its Cup window really stands.
There is also a familiar wrinkle in McDavids situation: he has signed below his market value before, and the Oilers would certainly welcome a repeat if they can keep convincing him they are built to contend. For Edmonton, this is about more than a number on a cap sheet. It is about whether the franchise can present a case strong enough to keep its captain aligned with the same urgency that has defined the teams push to stay in the championship mix. [Read more 🡒]