Edmonton Oilers News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Oilers’ Worst-Case Scenarios for 2026-27

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the San Jose Sharks on April 8, 2026. (David Gonzales-Imagn Images)

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Oilers’ Worst-Case Scenarios for 2026-27

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Dale Bochon | Last updated Jul 16, 2026 2:05 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The 2026-27 NHL Season will be especially revealing for the Edmonton Oilers. They’ll either hoist the Stanley Cup in June or completely fall apart before the playoffs start. A lot has to go right for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and company to reach their ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup.

However, as we saw last season when the Oilers were eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs and went searching for a new head coach in the summer, the franchise could fall off the rails. After looking at the best-case scenarios for this season recently, here’s a look at the Oilers’ worst-case scenarios for 2026-27.

The Mike Babcock Experiment Doesn’t Work

Oilers owner Daryl Katz and general manager Stan Bowman are taking a big chance in handing the coaching reins to Mike Babcock. Even though he had success early in his career, winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008 and leading Team Canada to consecutive gold medals in the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014, his best-before date expired a decade ago.

Babcock’s tenure behind the bench with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2015 to 2019 was unsuccessful, with his team failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs. When Babcock attempted a comeback with the Columbus Blue Jackets in July 2023, things went from bad to worse as he didn’t even make it to the start of the season because of the controversial treatment of some of his players.

Worst Case Scenario: Babcock should have stayed in retirement, and the experiment with the Oilers is deemed a huge failure. He’s replaced by assistant coach DJ Smith before the playoffs.

Connor McDavid Asks Out

When McDavid signed his two-year extension in October 2025 that kicks in this season, he essentially put the Oilers on notice that the time to win is now. With so much riding on the upcoming season, management seemed lost when choosing a new head coach, and that’s not a great way for McDavid to enter year one of his deal.

If the Oilers enter this year’s playoffs as they did against the Anaheim Ducks last spring, there’s a good chance that McDavid will ask out of Edmonton. It could come even earlier, maybe the 2027 NHL Trade Deadline, if the team is sputtering, but they cannot afford to let McDavid leave without getting something in return.

Worst-Case Scenario: McDavid steals a page out of Chris Pronger’s playbook and requests a trade around Christmas.

Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie Regress

Two question marks heading into the season are Isaac (Ike) Howard and Matt Savoie and whether they can make significant contributions to the team. The Oilers traded much-heralded prospect Sam O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Howard last season, and it’s hard to know who won that trade.

Howard improved with the Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate, Bakersfield Condors, last season and looks ready for the NHL. Whether the 2024-25 Hobey Baker Award winner can continue to evolve and improve remains a mystery. Babcock should give Howard every chance to succeed, whether on the second line with Draisaitl or as a third liner.

Savoie, meanwhile, really came into his own late last season, especially riding shotgun on McDavid’s line. If he can maintain his upward trend, the Oilers will be a better team. However, if he shows any signs of regression, there could be trouble in Oil Country.

Worst Case Scenario: Both Howard and Savoie falter under Babcock, with one or both put on the trade block for some veteran help late in the season.

The Oilers Defensive Miscues Continue

Even though most agree that Darnell Nurse needed a fresh start, the Oilers are going to miss his toughness and leadership this season. Bowman is counting on a defence led by Evan Bouchard, Connor Murphy, Mattias Ekholm and Jake Walman and believes they can do the trick. He’ll also be hoping that Ryan Shea, Ty Emberson, Shakir Mukhamadullin and Spencer Stastney can step up to fill Nurse’s shoes, whether individually or by committee.

The Oilers’ revamped defence will also be playing in front of a three-headed monster in net, including Frederick Andersen, Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry. If the gamble on goalies fails, the team will continue their pattern of faltering in their own zone.

Worst Case Scenario: Ekholm shows his age, Bouchard doesn’t return healthy from injury (sustained at the World Hockey Championship), no young defenceman steps up this season, and the three-headed goaltending experiment fails. If so, it’s going to be a long season in Edmonton.

The Oilers Are Gambling on Everything Going Right

Bowman will be one nervous man this season, hoping that the decisions he made this offseason go right. There’s a fine line between success and failure in Edmonton right now. From the coaching choice and hope that young players step up in front of a three-goalie system, there are no guarantees that things will go well in 2026-27. If things look bleak by Christmas, the noise will get even louder that McDavid will be looking for a new hockey home.

The Oilers are hoping the odds are in their favour. But if I were a betting man, I wouldn’t bet the farm on anything to start the season.

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

More must-reads: