The Edmonton Oilers head into 2026-27 with plenty of change around the edges, and a familiar spotlight sitting squarely on the core. After a 41-30-11 season that ended in a first-round exit, Edmonton is trying to reset quickly and get back to the Stanley Cup Final.
The biggest move came behind the bench, where the Oilers hired Mike Babcock as head coach. The 63-year-old brings a long résumé, but he also arrives with baggage after being forced to resign from his last coaching job following allegations that he demanded players show him personal photos from their phones. Edmonton is banking on the new voice to push the group back into true contender territory.
There was also major turnover in goal. The Oilers signed Frederik Andersen and traded for Devon Levi, a clear sign that the club knew its goaltending needed attention after last season. Edmonton also added Tristan Jarry, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Ryan Shea, while Darnell Nurse, Jack Roslovic and Calvin Pickard are gone.
Even with those changes, the central question remains the same: can the depth do enough to support Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? That’s the storyline that could decide whether Edmonton makes another deep run or stalls out again. The bottom six has to chip in more, with Trent Frederic, Jason Dickinson and Josh Samanski among the players who need to find the scoresheet more often.
Zach Hyman is another name to watch closely. He put up 52 points in 58 games during the regular season, but his production vanished in the playoffs, when he had just two points in six games. If Edmonton is going to be successful, the pressure on Hyman is going to be heavy again.
Last season, the Oilers finished second in the division, scored 282 goals and allowed 265. Their power play clicked at 30.6 percent, while the penalty kill sat at 77.8 percent.
The Canucks will see Edmonton four times this season: September 29 in Edmonton, October 1 in Vancouver, November 7 in Edmonton and March 21 in Vancouver.
In Other News...
Canucks Brought Back Luke Schenn For A Reason Fans Will Notice
Luke Schenn is back with the Canucks for a third stint, and this time the fit looks different from the hard-minute role fans may remember. Vancouver brought him in mainly to be a steady veteran presence for a young blue line, a move that fits the clubs broader plan of surrounding its developing core with experienced voices who can help them navigate the day-to-day demands of the league.
The organization has already shown how it wants to build that bridge to the future. Schenn was previously dealt for a 2023 third-round pick, and that selection turned into defenseman Sawyer Mynio, a player who could soon be pushing for NHL ice time. With Schenn now back in the room alongside other established mentors such as Brendan Gallagher, the Canucks are clearly betting that guidance and structure matter just as much as talent when it comes to shaping the next wave. [Read more 🡒]
Filip Chytil Just Became A Major Canucks Health Watch
The Canucks kept their third straight offseason summer skate rolling at Rogers Arena with most of the roster on the ice, and Filip Chytil was among the players taking part. For Vancouver, his presence mattered as much for the optics as the workout itself. Chytil has been working through the aftermath of head injuries, and every step he takes this summer will be watched closely by a club that could use him available and confident when the real schedule starts.
Chytil spoke about the recovery process in straightforward terms, stressing the importance of daily progress and the work he is putting in both physically and mentally. He said he is focused on building confidence back up while preparing for training camp and the season ahead, which is the kind of detail Canucks fans will want to hear after a frustrating stretch. The next checkpoint is simple enough, but it is also the one that matters most: whether the offseason work carries over once camp opens and the pace picks up. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Suddenly Have A Filip Chytil Question They Didn't Expect
Filip Chytils first stretch in Vancouver has already been defined as much by disruption as production. Since arriving in January 2025, he has played 27 games for the Canucks, and a run of head and facial injuries has kept him from building any real momentum, including a facial fracture that knocked him out of the lineup during his first full season with the club.
Now skating again in a regular jersey, Chytil says he feels confident about being ready for training camp, which at least gives Vancouver a healthier-looking starting point than it had a few months ago. The bigger question is what his role looks like once camp opens, especially after he acknowledged how difficult the last two years have been and said he wants to earn his place back step by step. [Read more 🡒]