3 burning Oilers questions entering 2026-27 NHL season

The Oilers will enter the season with Connor McDavid as their captain. However, his future in Edmonton is far from certain. All eyes are currently pointed toward the summer of 2028. On July 1, 2028, McDavid is eligible to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent.

The Oilers have to prove to McDavid that they can win a Stanley Cup within the next couple of seasons. There is no replacing McDavid. If he walks out the door, then Edmonton has to live with that and try to salvage what’s left.

Edmonton can re-sign the superstar forward on July 1, 2027. That means that Edmonton’s performance this season will be crucial. It could mean the difference between McDavid staying and informing the team that he wants to move on.

Is this season the make-or-break point for the Oilers captain? Or could he be willing to see this thing out until the end? No matter what, Edmonton’s performance this season is vital to his future in Alberta.

Can Oilers’ defense, goaltending hold up?

The Oilers know that McDavid cannot do this all on his own. The former first-overall pick certainly tried to will this team kicking and screaming to the Stanley Cup in 2024. But if the captain is slowed down, the rest of the team needs to step up.

Edmonton knows that, and they sought to bolster the team this summer. They improved the defense with the signing of Ryan Shea in NHL free agency. And they overhauled their goaltending, adding Devon Levi through trade and signing Frederik Andersen fresh off a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. They also moved out some players, such as Darnell Nurse.

Edmonton finished the 2025-26 campaign 25th in goals allowed. They also allowed around four goals a game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The offense, as high-powered as it is, cannot overcome this lack of goal prevention.

If the Oilers are to win the Cup, they will need to be effective when McDavid isn’t able to impact the game. That starts with their defense and their goaltending. How these units fare in 2026-27 will determine the ceiling of this team.

What will the Mike Babcock effect be?

It’s hard to imagine a bigger and more pressing question than any surrounding McDavid. However, the questions around new head coach Mike Babcock are certainly a top contender. The Oilers hired Babcock this offseason with the express consent of McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl.

McDavid and Draisaitl believe the veteran head coach will push Edmonton. He will hold them accountable, and in their view, that’s what this team needs. In saying this, there is a ton of risk.

Babcock has serious concerns about the player treatment surrounding him. From reports of a toxic locker room with the Toronto Maple Leafs to the player privacy scandal with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the veteran bench boss is not a squeaky-clean figure in the hockey world.

If those concerns are something you don’t care about, there is still risk here. Babcock hasn’t coached an NHL game since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Can he keep up with the changes to the game since he last coached? Or has the game passed him by while he was away?

The Oilers believe in Babcock without any hesitation. For better or worse, they will find out what sort of impact he can bring in 2026-27.