As the Edmonton Oilers head toward the 2026-27 NHL season, the biggest question might not be Mike Babcock’s coaching style, injuries, or roster depth. It’s the same old one, just wearing a different face: can the goaltending finally hold up?
For a team that has spent much of the Connor McDavid era trying to stabilize the crease, the current setup is supposed to be the answer. Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen are the names in the mix now, and the Oilers are betting that trio can give them enough between the pipes to chase a Stanley Cup. Whether that happens is still very much up in the air.
The immediate pressure falls on Jarry and Levi, because Andersen won’t be available until December while he recovers from injuries. If Jarry opens the season the way he played last year, Edmonton could be back in familiar trouble fast.
Levi, meanwhile, is still trying to lock down a full-time NHL job, and this is his chance to prove he belongs as a regular. If one or both of them fall short, the Oilers could find themselves back in the same old loop.
Andersen brings a different layer to the equation once he returns. He was strong during Carolina’s run to the Stanley Cup last spring, but his postseason ended in Game 2 of the Final against the Vegas Golden Knights because of injury.
Brandon Bussi took over in Game 3 and guided the Hurricanes to Stanley Cup glory from there. The question for Edmonton is simple enough: will Andersen look like that goalie again when he finally gets on the ice for the Oilers, or has 13 NHL seasons already started to catch up to the soon-to-be 37-year-old?
That uncertainty matters even more because Babcock and assistant coach D.J. Smith may not need a nightly superhuman effort if the team’s defensive structure tightens up.
What Edmonton may really need is the kind of timely stop it has too often lacked in the biggest moments. Stan Bowman’s goaltending plan is now on the clock, and the Oilers are waiting to see whether it finally solves a problem that has lingered for years.
There is at least a path where this works out in a hurry. If Jarry and Levi start fast, Edmonton could suddenly have a real problem in the best possible way when Andersen comes back.
But with Andersen out until at least December, and possibly needing time to shake off the rust after that, Jarry and Levi have until at least January to stake their claim. How long Andersen waits for a shot back in the lineup may depend on where the Oilers sit in the standings.
For a franchise that has watched other teams’ goalies steal games far too often, this feels like a chance to finally get one of its own. Jarry could rediscover his early-career form.
Levi could take advantage of the first real run he’s had in the NHL. Andersen could return and settle things down once he’s healthy again.
If that all clicks, Edmonton may finally have the kind of goaltending that can carry a run.
If it doesn’t, the search starts again.
In Other News...
Oilers Fans Have Plenty To Debate After Wild Babcock Debut
The Oilers opened their 2026-27 season with a game that had plenty of everything except a tidy finish, falling 6-5 in overtime to the Vancouver Canucks. Evan Bouchard and Vasily Podkolzin did the heavy lifting offensively, with Bouchard scoring three times and Podkolzin adding two of his own as Edmonton turned what looked like a lopsided night into a full-throttle comeback attempt.
Edmonton was staring at a 5-2 deficit late in the third period before dragging the game level and forcing extra time, which is exactly the kind of opener that leaves a fan base with equal parts frustration and intrigue. The defense generated rare headline-making offense, the rally showed real fight, and the overtime loss ensured there will be plenty for the Oilers to sort through before the next one. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Prospect David Lewandowski Has A Bigger Role Than Fans Realize
David Lewandowski is still a name that mostly lives on the prospect lists, but the 19-year-old German forward has already built a rsum that gives the Oilers a reason to pay attention. Drafted out of the Western Hockey League and spending most of his time with the Saskatoon Blades, he has also carried Germanys colors in international play, giving Edmonton a look at how he handles bigger stages and different styles of competition. For a team always searching for young forwards who can grow into NHL roles, that kind of experience matters.
Lewandowski is back in juniors for another season, which keeps the timeline a little longer but also gives the Oilers more runway to watch his development unfold. The expectation is that he will turn professional soon and start the next phase of his career in the American Hockey League, where the real test becomes whether his game can translate against older, stronger competition before he ever gets a crack at Edmonton. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Trade Search Is Suddenly Focused On A Crucial Center Need
The Oilers search for help has started to sharpen around one very specific need: a right-shot centre. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that Edmonton has been exploring options with an eye toward adding younger, potentially undervalued players, a profile that fits the clubs broader effort to improve its roster without simply chasing the obvious names on the market.
What makes the hunt especially interesting is how thin the depth chart looks at that spot. Edmonton has only one right-shot centre under contract, Owen Michaels, who cracked the opening night roster, so the front office has real incentive to keep digging for a fit. Montreals Kirby Dach and former top prospect Shane Wright are among the names in the mix, which suggests the Oilers are looking for more than a stopgap as they try to solve a position that can shape the rest of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]