Oilers Are No Better Than They Were Last Season

Up front, the Oilers signed Alex Formenton and Mathieu Joseph while re-signing Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones. As mentioned above, they also changed up their goaltending duo, signing Frederik Andersen will trading for Devon Levi.

One thing you’ll notice right away regarding the position players is that none of them are high-end talents. Shea is a solid player, but not one who is capable of taking over a game or completely dominating on the back end. The other exciting add was thought to be Andersen, though that signing looks like it could wind up being a dud.

It was reported ahead of training camp that Andersen would be forced to miss some time due to injury. While the Oilers haven’t spoken on what exactly caused the injury, it’s worth noting that Andersen was injured during the Stanley Cup Final with the Carolina Hurricanes.

The reason why the signing looks like it could already become a dud is due to the fact that the Oilers have now announced Andersen will be out until at least December. So, until he’s back, this team is forced to operate a tandem of Levi and Tristan Jarry. That doesn’t appear to be an upgrade, as one could argue Connor Ingram was a better goalie last season than Levi will be in 2026-27.

Even when Andersen is ready to return, it’s impossible to say how long it will take before he’s back at the top of his game. Starting a season late is difficult for anyone, let alone a 37-year-old. There’s also plenty of concern about reinjury or even a separate injury later on given how much he’s struggled staying healthy in recent years.

Edmonton Has Plenty to Figure Out

The biggest issue for the Oilers right now is that their offseason changes haven’t addressed the areas that ultimately cost them last season. Their stars can continue to produce at an elite level, but they can’t be expected to outscore every problem the rest of the roster creates.

Giving up 13 goals in two games is obviously not sustainable, regardless of how talented the offence is. The Oilers may eventually settle down defensively, and there’s still plenty of time for new additions to find their footing. However, the early results have raised legitimate questions about whether Bowman actually improved this roster enough to make another deep playoff run.