The Edmonton Oilers 2026–27 season will be an important one, perhaps even more important than the back-to-back seasons they fought their way to the Stanley Cup Final. While the two seasons in the finals gave the team a taste of what they were truly playing for, this season is daunting for a different reason entirely: they are running out of time in the Connor McDavid era.
With the clock ticking, it’s important that the Oilers hit the ice skating to begin the season, but opinions and statistics can’t be set in stone after one or two games. Even with time as the Oilers most important and least abundant resource, they must be allotted a window that can be used as a reference for issues that need to be addressed, or structures that need to be re-worked.
Restructuring in the offseason
The Oilers made significant moves in the offseason, starting with relieving Kris Knoblauch of his head coaching duties, followed by trading Darnell Nurse while managing to retain none of his salary and bring in younger defence to take his minutes. Then they brought in Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi to create a competitive goalie rotation with a veteran, Stanley Cup winning mindset. Things with the Oilers have changed, with many new names and play structures being part of the remodel, and changes to that degree tend to take time to settle in.
Many of the changes the Edmonton Oilers made heading into the 2026–27 season were met with uncertainty and negativity. Having Mike Babcock take the reins from Kris Knoblauch was a change many fans and NHL players alike have been vocal about their disagreement. Kris Knoblauch may not have been the right choice to continue to guide the team from behind the bench, but judging the addition of Babcock—who has been mired in controversy since being let go from Columbus before actually coaching a game—will take time and cannot be given a definitive pass or fail by analysts or fans immediately.
Too many injuries to start the season
When it comes to injuries, the Oilers can’t seem to catch a break, even this early into the season. The goalie brought in to steady the crease, Frederik Andersen, will be sidelined until December, according to recent updates. Matthew Savoie and Mattias Janmark are still dealing with lingering issues. While Jason Dickinson, the newly signed trade-deadline acquisition, who was a welcome defensive addition to the forward line-up, has a foot injury that is keeping him from being on the active roster.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman were the most recent additions to the injured list, with both of them being vital members of the Oilers. Alec Regula is also among the injured, but his spot is easier to fill with AHL talent.
Several younger players who are looking to make a statement and cement themselves as an NHL level player will get their chances with the IR list growing. Slotting them into the line-up will push back the window of reference that analysts and coaching staff will need to truly fill the gaps.
There are other teams that are suffering from the same injury issues as the Oilers, but it seems to be more of a dire situation when it comes to Edmonton. Fans and media alike are going to look at every minute detail in every game the Oilers play, and every high or low will be furiously dissected.
Game one of the season is the perfect example. While game one of 84 was as entertaining as a hockey game could be, it brought about doubts that followed the Oilers throughout last season, this past offseason, and now into 2026–27. It was not a spectacular showing by either team, with Vancouver getting the better result in OT, but it is too early to start burning jerseys and declaring them “dead on arrival.”
Give them time—but not too much
Before the fandom panics and hands out passing or failing grades on the Oilers restructuring, they need a 10-game window of reference. The first game of the season had many fans up-in-arms and ready to call for major changes.
There were many aspects of the game that needed refining against Vancouver on September 29, but there were also good things. While McDavid and Draisaitl were both without goals in a game where 11 were scored, they had assists, but they were not the shining stars that people are used to on the ice.
Evan Bouchard had a legendary offensive night, becoming the first defenceman to record a hat trick in a season opener since Mark Howe in 1980. He is only the third defenceman in NHL history to record this achievement. Bouchard had several defensive lapses in game one, but he created plays out of nothing when he had the puck. If his defensive game can improve, Bouchard will be force to be reckoned with this season.
Vasily Podkolzin had a two-goal game, and he placed himself in areas he needed to be, and overall, he made his presence known during his shifts.
Goaltending was a major problem for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry’s best save of the night did not happen until OT, but a lost puck battle led to a backhander getting past Jarry to close out the season opener. While Jarry looked far more comfortable with the team in front of him in the preseason, even though many of the players skating for the Oilers were working for roster spots, the opening night harkened back to his troubles last year.
Regardless of how the Oilers looked in the preseason and the first game of the season, it is not yet time to panic. The Oilers underwent too many changes in the offseason, and injuries have marred the lines Babcock initially had planned. Give the Oilers 10 games to find their footing. The team needs several games to learn how to co-exist on the ice. Game one did not go the Oilers way, but it gave them some data to work with, and the next nine games will be far more important.
The Oilers are short on time in the long run, but they need the beginning of the season to find the holes in their structure, or to build on what is working. Give them a 10-game window, which is time, but not too much of it.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
