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Oilers Benefiting From Culture Shift in 2026-27

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Devon Levi (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

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Oilers Benefiting From Culture Shift in 2026-27

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Dale Bochon | Last updated Oct 17, 2026 3:20 PM ET

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It’s not quite time to start dusting off the old City of Champions signs that once greeted you on your way into Edmonton, but positive things are happening in Alberta’s capital city. The Edmonton Oilers are playing inspired hockey in October for the first time in years, and their cross-city brethren the Edmonton Elks have just sealed their first trip to the CFL’s Western Final in over a decade. Wayne Gretzky often credited the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) football dynasty as a blueprint for the Oilers’ own Stanley Cup success.

What’s going on in Edmonton? Who turned the clock back to the early 1980s, when both franchises were at the top of their respective leagues? Who’s responsible for this culture shift?

Veteran Oilers Observer Recognizes the Shift in Attitude

On the Friday, Oct. 16 edition of the Lowdown with Lowetide on Sports 1440, host Allan Mitchell interviewed former Hockey Night In Canada producer and keen Oilers observer Steve Lansky. Lansky mentioned a key point: “The thing that I notice is not there anymore is when there’s a goal scored against them or maybe two goals scored against them….there doesn’t seem to be a deflate reaction. And now that doesn’t seem to exist… It’s like, they’re just still pounding and grinding and going, which is something you always wanted from the Oilers, but you didn’t get. And now it seems like we might be getting it. And I’ll be damned if it’s not going to make a huge difference, because it is.”

Oilers Front Office Deserves Early Season Credit

The Oilers had a tumultuous offseason that started with the firing of former head coach Kris Knoblauch, the hiring of Mike Babcock, and the signing of an unproven goaltender in Devon Levi. There were a lot of question marks going into the 2026-27 season, including pressure on general manager Stan Bowman to deliver a team with a legitimate shot at competing for the Stanley Cup. So far, so good.

After seven games, the Oilers have one regulation loss and are right where they want to be – competing for first place in the Pacific Division with the best winning percentage in the Western Conference at .786. Despite injuries to key players such as Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Matt Savoie, the Oilers seem to be a team on a mission early this season with a “next man up” attitude.

New Coaches Making a Positive Difference

There seems to be an air of confidence that Babcock and associate coach D.J. Smith are bringing to the Oilers this season. Even if the Oilers are behind in a game, you know they’re never really out of it. They’ve shown flashes of this can-do spirit before, but this season it seems more solid. It’s early, but Babcock, Smith and the Oilers coaching staff have done a great job of challenging old mindsets among veterans and instilling a winning attitude that doesn’t seem fleeting.

Oilers Getting Key Saves From Levi

You can talk about the great start to the season by Oilers superstars Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, but one of the top reasons for the early-season success has been the goaltending of Levi. Babcock mentioned recently that “He (Levi) is a confident kid.” That confidence seems to be rubbing off on other members of the team, including goaltender Tristan Jarry, who looked good in the Oilers 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 10.

Levi is giving off some Miikka Kiprusoff-type vibes with his athleticism and quick glove hand. The Oilers might’ve found their version of the former Calgary Flames star goalie, who, like Levi, was the third goalie on his team (the San Jose Sharks) until former Flames GM and coach Daryl Sutter gave him a fresh start in Calgary.

The Times, They Are A-Changin in Edmonton

When it comes to a shift in culture, Bob Dylan may have said it best: “For the loser now, will be later to win for the times they are a-changin’”. After winning so many championships in the 1980s and then going through some serious dry spells, the pendulum may have swung back in a positive direction for the Oilers and Elks. If so, a new generation of fans should savour every minute of it.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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