The Edmonton Oilers are set to open the 2026-27 NHL season with three games in a week that already feels like it matters. Two of those matchups come against the Vancouver Canucks in a home-and-home, and the third brings the Seattle Kraken to Edmonton.
The first game arrives Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time in Edmonton.
The Oilers then head to Vancouver for a Thursday meeting at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time before returning home to face Seattle.
Last season, Edmonton handled both Pacific Division opponents well. The Oilers went 3-0-1 against Vancouver, with the lone setback coming in a 4-3 overtime loss on October 26, 2025. Against Seattle, they were 3-1-0, with the only defeat a 3-2 loss on October 25, 2025.
The expectation here is straightforward: 3-0-0.
There’s some real weight to these early divisional games, even if the bigger Pacific Division tests come later in the opening stretch. Edmonton’s first six games are all against division opponents, and the first three could help set the tone while the team settles in.
One major storyline is behind the bench. Mike Babcock has been in the organization for a few months, but this will be his first regular-season game leading the Oilers.
It also marks the first time in almost seven years that the former Detroit Red Wings bench boss will coach an NHL game. He has had a preseason to get back into the rhythm of NHL coaching and to get familiar with the roster, but there’s still a chance the team needs a little time to fully adjust.
The other part of this is simpler: contenders are supposed to beat teams expected to live near the bottom of the standings. Last season, the league’s bottom-ten teams included the Canucks, Kraken, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Nashville Predators.
Edmonton went 20-5-4 against that group overall, which is a strong mark, but the season didn’t start cleanly. The Oilers opened that 29-game stretch at 2-1-3, with overtime losses to Vancouver and Seattle mixed in.
So while a few early hiccups wouldn’t be shocking, these games still carry real value. Edmonton finished two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division, and with a path back to the Stanley Cup Final still in view, these opening divisional matchups could end up mattering a lot by the time the season is sorted out.
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Oilers Keep Circling Kirby Dach And This Rumor May Not Fade
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NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that both Edmonton and Calgary have shown real interest in Dach, with the Oilers viewed as especially aggressive in their pursuit. For Edmonton, the appeal is obvious: a player still young enough to fit a core timeline, with enough upside to make the chase worth monitoring whether it happens before the season, at the trade deadline, or later if circumstances change. [Read more 🡒]