Bold predictions for the Edmonton Oilers’ 2026–27 season

With the 2026–27 season looming, expectations across Oil Country are high. The offseason’s changes in place the Edmonton Oilers will hope for a better result this time around.

With that in mind, let’s preview a possible future with some bold predictions.

New additions bring hope

The first place to look is at new players. A new season brings new hope, and the new additions are often reasons for optimism.

Mike Babcock is polarizing, and many take into account their feelings in predicting outcomes. Some might have predicted Babcock to have been let go already, if only to imitate his run with the Columbus Blues Jackets. On the other extreme, the optimist might see a defensively stout Oilers team win the Pacific Division. The Oilers are not perfect, but the team seems bought into a more militant culture, at least from a narrative standpoint.

Considering the voters for the Jack Adams Trophy might have something biases about Babcock, a win might be too much. A top five finish in voting, however, might be in reach. For the division, the Jack Adams Trophy, and for team defence the Oilers must establish a clear new identity as early and consistently as possible. The Oilers get over their Autumn issues.

While at full health Frederik Andersen is the presumptive starter, the Oilers will likely have to go without him over stretches of the season. Tristan Jarry will likely be the opening night starter. Devon Levi, optimistically, has the best chance at being the playoff starter, though. A strong defensive team will help them all, no doubt, meaning it might take time to sort it all out. The Oilers will slow play Levi as long as they can. The Oilers finish top ten in goals against.

Production should come as no surprise

Obviously, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl lead the way. For now the team seems intent on keeping them together, hoping the opportunity for more identity through the rest of the forward group manifests. Evan Bouchard could get 100 points. Isaac Howard could get 20 goals. Vasily Podkolzin could put up career numbers. The real offensive x-factor is Matthew Savoie.

Starting the season injured is not ideal, so is hitting the ground running under a new coach. Regardless, Savoie is positioned to keep pushing up the depth chart for his next contract. The lineup might well dry up underneath McDavid and Draisaitl without Savoie. Savoie finishes fourth on the team in even strength scoring.

Defence to mesh well together

There is, of course, some change on the blueline. Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin are both sneaky good upgrades. Mattias Ekholm is getting older, and his spot alongside Bouchard might come into question. Still, Ekholm could lead a pairing as a shutdown option alongside either Connor Murphy or Mukhamadullin.

Jake Walman is coming off of a down season, so a bounce back will be critical. With Shea and Ekholm ahead of him, Walman might become a target for those counting cap dollars. A more sheltered role might well lead to stronger results, either through offensive usage or quality of opponents. Shea averages more icetime than Walman.

Adding more physicality

There will also be some defensive identity from the forward group. Jason Dickinson should not be counted on for much offensively, but is suited for heavy defensive assignments. Colton Dach is getting a look at centre, and embodies the spirit of the Oilers bottom-six. Fast, heavy, forecheckers. Kasperi Kapanen does even more so, and his skill is vital towards injecting some offence within a group that is very direct.

Time will tell how stubbornly Babcock adheres to that vision. A dry spell, a losing streak, an injury, there are younger players pushing for spots. It might make it difficult for smaller forwards to get call up opportunities, tough for Quinn Hutson and Viljami Marjala. Connor Clattenburg will get an NHL call up.

Josh Samanski is waiver exempt, so he might even find himself in the AHL to start the season. That might not be the worst thing either, as Samanski has been fairly productive and might still have more to give offensively. At some point in the next year, Samanski will push Jason Dickinson for minutes.

New prospects to watch

Finally, the Oilers will have some strong seasons from their prospects. While the pool lacks definition beyond graduates-to-be Howard and Samanski, some prospects will take their place with progress. Rudolfs Berzkalns, Malcom Gastrin, and Samuel Jonsson will shoot up rankings.