The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026–27 season with a lot of pressure on their shoulders. They are coming off a tough playoff loss, have signed Mike Babcock, and have recently brought in Alex Formenton. All of these factors have brought extra pressure to go along with the need to win. With major roster changes taking place, the Oilers look to start the new season on the right foot.
Let’s take a look at all of the factors that need to go well for a successful season.
Mike Babcock needs to fit in
The most significant storyline going into next season is Mike Babcock. He is a longtime NHL coach who has been out of the league since the 2019–20 season. Babcock has spent time with Anaheim, Detroit, and Toronto, where he was lucky enough to win a Stanley Cup in 2008 with Detroit. Apart from that winning season, Babcock is mainly known for his tough demeanor and controversial ways of coaching.
Former NHL players like Johan Franzen and Mike Commodore have made comments about how awful a person Babcock is. If these kinds of comments are really how Babcock is, some Oiler players could be in for a tough season. Guys like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will be fine, as they are the face of the franchise. However, it will be the depth players who will have to deal with Babcock’s antics. Babcock needs to change with the times. Being tough is a way to coach, but any bullying will destroy overall team success.
Right from the get-go, Babcock needs to set the tone and be honest with his players. The roster will know what they are in for, so making a good first impression will be key. A main priority for a coach is to build trust with the entire team. If Babcock is able to do this and get the players to buy in, the Oilers could be a dangerous team going into 2026–27.
Tristan Jarry needs a good year
Another key factor in the success of next season will be Tristan Jarry. The goaltender has had his struggles over the past couple of seasons, but now is the time to find his game again. The outcome of this entire season rests on Jarry’s shoulders. To win a Stanley Cup, the Oilers desperately need a starting goalie who can put up decent numbers. Stuart Skinner did just that in back-to-back playoff runs. If he can do it, so can Jarry.
When Stan Bowman acquired Jarry from Pittsburgh, the goalie found himself entering an environment that needed instant results. The Oilers had been very mediocre all season long, putting instant pressure on the need to win. Jarry’s struggles carried over from his time in Pittsburgh. With Edmonton in the regular season, the goalie posted a 9–6–2 record with a weak .858 SV%. This falls far below the “good” mark in the NHL and did not get Jarry or the Oilers very far. Going into next season, he needs to lock in and find the 2019–20 version of Tristan Jarry.
Jarry has been a solid starting goalie. In his best season, 2019–20, he posted a 20–12–1 record with the Penguins, where he recorded an impressive .921 SV% alongside a 2.43 GAA. These stats weren’t the best in the league, but they’re definitely the kind that can help the Oilers win.
Consistency must be found early
A primary issue for the entire team last season was finding that cohesive consistency. All great teams in the NHL are capable of stringing together multiple winning streaks in a season. These winning streaks are not just three- or four-game, but five or more that help them stand out from the competition. This was something that really stood out for the Oilers in the wrong way. The team could barely win four straight games. The best winning streak came at the end of last year, when the team won five straight games at the end of March. Unfortunately, this was only to be followed by losing four of the next five.
Looking back at previous seasons, the winning streaks were what bolstered the Oilers as such a scary team. In the 2023–24 season, the Oilers set the second-longest winning streak in NHL history. This run ran through December of 2023 all the way to early February of 2024. The team won 16 straight games, which was absolutely amazing to watch. Seeing a team be that dominant set the tone for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Even though it ended with a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, this run solidified the Oilers as a Cup contender.
If this team wants to reclaim its status as a Cup-contending team, consistency needs to be the story of 2026–27. This core of players will only get so many chances before time runs out. With a new coach, a strong sense of urgency, and a great roster, the Oilers should be ready to fire on all cylinders.
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