The first 10 games could tell the Edmonton Oilers a lot about what this roster really is under Mike Babcock.
That’s because the early stretch may force the kind of moves that reshape a season before it ever settles in. With a new coaching staff in place, the evaluation window is tight, and the club may not wait long before turning to AHL recalls, trades and waivers if the results aren’t there.
Goaltending sits right at the center of it. Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi need to hit the ground running, because the Oilers have lived through too many slow starts in net already. In 2023-24, Edmonton opened 2-7-1 and finished those first 10 games with a 40.5 percent goal share, a hole so deep that Kris Knoblauch had to lean hard on his best players just to stabilize things and chase the playoffs.
The recent numbers tell the story. Stuart Skinner struggled in the first 10 games of 2023-24, posting a .902 save percentage in 257 five-on-five minutes, while Jack Campbell went even lower at .879 in 211 minutes and lost the job.
Then in the fall of 2024, Skinner dropped to .890 in 321 five-on-five minutes and Calvin Pickard rescued the situation with a .924 mark in 174 minutes. Last fall brought a better opening at 4-4-2, with Skinner steady at .910 in 308 five-on-five minutes and Pickard stumbling at .872 in 195 minutes.
That’s why Jarry and Levi are under the microscope from the first puck drop. Frederik Andersen’s injury has left the starter’s net open, and Levi now has his biggest opportunity yet to become an NHL regular. If neither goalie answers, Bowman may have to chase another costly solution.
The same early pressure applies to the forward group, especially while Matt Savoie is out. Savoie had a strong rookie season, starting on the fourth line and on the penalty kill before climbing all the way to the top line with Connor McDavid. At 22, he’s the most valuable player under 25 in the organization, and Babcock will want him back as soon as he’s healthy.
For now, the safest fill-in on McDavid’s left side is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. There are other names in the mix, though.
Ike Howard is a gifted scorer who will get a look in camp, even if his defensive game is not yet a strength. Quinn Hutson brings a reputation for working well without the puck and scored 30 goals as an AHL rookie last season.
Josh Samanski is the long-shot name worth tracking - he’s 24, has played just 24 NHL games, and can line up at centre or wing. His offense is modest, but he could give McDavid and one of Leon Draisaitl or Zach Hyman some defensive balance.
Babcock’s new bench setup adds another wrinkle. He and associate coach D.J.
Smith are new to the organization, while Paul McFarland and Peter Aubry are the only other notable holdovers from Edmonton’s 2025-26 staff. That unfamiliarity with the younger players could lead to some early churn if the team gets off track.
Babcock is usually the type to stick with a group once it’s set, but those first 10 games may not give him that luxury.
Edmonton has shown before that it won’t sit still when the start goes sideways. In 2023-24, the club moved quickly by firing Jay Woodcroft early, sending Philip Broberg to the AHL Bakersfield Condors and ending Jack Campbell’s run with the team on Nov.
- In 2024-25, Knoblauch cut Derek Ryan’s usage and Travis Dermott’s last game came on Nov. 19 before he was put on waivers in December.
Last December brought even more movement. Bowman made the goalie trade that sent Jarry for a package including Skinner and Brett Kulak, Troy Stecher and Noah Philp were lost on waivers, David Tomášek returned to Europe and the Oilers brought in Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators. That much turnover may have played a part in why the 2025-26 roster never really found its footing.
Now Babcock and Smith have to sort through another crowded picture, and injuries aren’t making it easier. Andersen, Savoie, Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula are all dealing with issues that add to the uncertainty. That could push the Oilers toward veteran choices and send players like Howard, Hutson and Samanski to the minors while the staff gets a better read on the roster.
Stastney is in a difficult spot himself and could be dealt during camp. Edmonton gave up a third-round pick to get him, so Bowman probably won’t want to waive him.
The defensive situation is still fluid, and teams usually need eight or more blueliners over the course of a season. That leaves open the possibility of a strange opening-night roster, maybe one carrying three goalies, eight defencemen and 12 forwards.
There are also a few camp names that could force their way into the conversation. Max Jones and Connor Clattenburg play with an edge that could catch Babcock’s eye.
Owen Michaels is the only right-handed natural centre on the roster, while Aku Räty remains something of an unknown but could make noise. Eduards Tralmaks, with his size, speed and scoring touch, is another player worth watching.
The bigger picture is already coming into focus. The 2026-27 version of this team should look very different on the wings, with Evander Kane and Corey Perry bigger names than Howard and Hutson. Edmonton has delayed the future long enough, and by next season Savoie should have company in the under-25 group.
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