The Edmonton Oilers finally have a goaltending setup that gives them options, and their latest move only adds to that picture.
On Wednesday, the Oilers signed reigning Stanley Cup-winning goalie Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal, a surprising addition that came just hours after Edmonton acquired Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres. The expectation now is that the Oilers will open next season with a three-goalie group featuring Andersen, Levi, and Tristan Jarry.
For a team that has spent years searching for the right answer in net during the Connor McDavid era, this is a clear signal. Edmonton is pushing hard to build a roster capable of finally getting over the hump, especially after McDavid took a pay cut to stay with the club. So far this offseason, the Oilers appear committed to spending carefully and with purpose.
At first glance, Andersen’s signing looked like it could be a problem if the money or term got out of hand. It turns out the deal is much more manageable than that. His salary is $1 million, and the contract carries a $2.8 million average annual value because of potential bonuses.
The #LetsGoOilers signed 36 y/o G Freddie Andersen to 1 year deal
Salary $1M
Perf Bonuses $1.8M: $600K @ 10GP, 400K @ 20GP, $200K for each playoff round won where he plays 50% of games)
Cap Hit $1M, AAV $2.8M
No Move Clause with 15 Team No Trade List
Rep'd by @4sportshockey …
- PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 2, 2026
That structure makes the move much easier to understand. Edmonton gets a veteran goaltender without tying up significant cap space, and the club still has room to keep working on its top-six forward group.
Andersen’s 2025-26 regular season was uneven. According to MoneyPuck, he finished at -3.3 goals-saved-above-expected. He also had some rough moments in the playoffs, even though the team in front of him was playing at a very high level.
Frederik Andersen, signed 1x$1M by EDM, is a veteran goalie. pic.twitter.com/MizbQcngTk
- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 2, 2026
Still, there were circumstances around that postseason run. Andersen dealt with tragedy before the Stanley Cup Final and was also reportedly battling an injury, which makes it fair to be cautious about reading too much into his struggles against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Even with those concerns, the Oilers are taking a calculated swing here. In a season that feels like a “must win” opportunity, betting on Andersen on a short-term, low-cost deal makes sense.
The biggest advantage Edmonton has now is depth. If Jarry doesn’t rebound or injuries pop up, the Oilers are not stuck scrambling. With Andersen, Jarry, and Levi in the mix, they can manage workloads, reduce wear and tear, and turn to a young goalie if needed.
That flexibility is what makes this signing stand out. It is low risk, and the payoff could be significant if Andersen gives Edmonton steady play when it matters most.
At the very least, the Oilers have bought themselves stability without emptying the bank account. That matters, because the front office still has enough cap room to keep chasing help up front.
Stan Bowman has clearly been aggressive this summer, and Edmonton does not look finished yet.
In Other News...
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Connor Ingrams lone season in Edmonton has become part of a much larger summer scramble in net, with the Oilers still searching for answers after their talks with the veteran goalie failed to produce a new deal. The market has already started to sort itself out around the club, and Edmonton has been tied to a handful of different options as it tries to settle on a direction before the rest of the goalie carousel slows down.
Among the names linked to the Oilers are Sebastian Cossa, Devon Levi and Sergei Bobrovsky, a list that underscores just how wide the teams search has become. Ingram, meanwhile, is also drawing attention elsewhere, including from Ottawa as a possible backup option, leaving Edmonton to keep weighing its alternatives while one of last seasons familiar faces moves toward another stop. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Add Mathieu Joseph And Fans Will Debate What It Means
The Oilers kept busy on the roster front again, this time adding Mathieu Joseph on a one-year deal that gives the club another NHL-tested forward to sort into the mix. Joseph arrives with plenty of mileage on his rsum, having played 471 games in the league, and his path through St. Louis and Los Angeles last season only adds to the sense that Edmonton is still looking for useful pieces wherever it can find them.
For a team that has already layered in a string of other moves, Joseph is the kind of signing that invites debate because it says something about both fit and intent. Edmonton still has cap room to work with, but the real question now is how this latest addition slots into the larger plan as the Oilers continue reshaping the bottom of the lineup and trying to make each move count. [Read more 🡒]