Goaltending uncertainty headlines Oilers' pre‑season
The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026-27 NHL season under a new head coach and with questions in net as the club looks to convert regular‑season promise into post‑season success. The National Hockey League schedule opens Sept. 29, and while the Oilers still boast elite offensive firepower, their defensive record and a disrupted crease could define how far the team goes.
Mike Babcock begins his first season behind the Oilers' bench after Edmonton finished 41-30-11 last year and were eliminated in the Western Conference First Round. The club returns superstars who drive the attack, but the goaltending picture is unsettled.
“Goaltending could once again be an issue.”
That line from the team's preseason assessment sums up the immediate concern. Edmonton plans to operate with a three‑goalie rotation featuring Tristan Jarry, Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi. Andersen, who signed a one‑year deal as an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes, suffered an undisclosed injury during offseason training and is not ready to start the season. That leaves Jarry and Levi to carry the load until Andersen returns.
Track record and recent form
Andersen's recent playoff performance was strong: in the post‑season he posted a 1.89 goals‑against average and a .910 save percentage across 16 starts, going 13-2. In the regular season that preceded the Cup run he was 16-14-5 with a 3.05 GAA and a .874 save percentage over 35 starts.
Jarry's time in Edmonton has been mixed. Acquired in a mid‑season trade from Pittsburgh on Dec. 12, he struggled with consistency and eventually lost the No. 1 job to Connor Ingram last season. Levi, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, has not played in the NHL since the 2024-25 season.
| Goalie | Notable recent fact |
|---|---|
| Frederik Andersen | Signed one‑year deal; recovering from offseason injury; strong 2026 playoff numbers |
| Tristan Jarry | Inconsistent since trade to Edmonton; lost No. 1 job last season |
| Devon Levi | Acquired July 1; no NHL game since 2024‑25 season |
Defence and offensive pillars
Offence should not be a concern. With Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the forward corps, Edmonton remains one of the NHL’s most potent attacks. That offensive ceiling is why expectation levels in the city remain high — but scoring alone has not carried the club to the ultimate prize.
Last season the Oilers allowed 3.23 goals per game, ranking 25th in the league. That defensive fragility was a key factor in the early playoff exit, when the team was upset by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round after two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025, losing to the Florida Panthers on both occasions.
What to watch as the season opens
- How the three‑goalie rotation functions early, particularly Jarry’s ability to reassert himself and Levi’s readiness after time away from the NHL.
- Whether Babcock can shore up Edmonton’s defensive structure to lower the team’s goals against average from last season’s 3.23.
- Special teams and depth scoring in high‑pressure playoff scenarios, given the club’s recent late‑season and post‑season stumbles.
Edmonton's supporters will be watching closely. With a veteran coach in his first season and an inexperienced crease to begin the campaign, the Oilers have clear strengths and clear vulnerabilities. The early weeks of the schedule should reveal whether this group has the balance to make another deep playoff run or whether goaltending and defensive lapses will again be the stumbling blocks.
