Oilers’ Biggest Roster Concern Ahead of 2026-27
The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2026-27 NHL season with another opportunity to chase the Stanley Cup, but one familiar weakness could once again stand in their way.
Edmonton’s 2026 playoff run ended much earlier than expected. Rather than returning to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers were eliminated in six games by the upstart Anaheim Ducks in the opening round.
With only two seasons remaining on Connor McDavid’s contract, Edmonton had no intention of entering a rebuilding phase this summer. The pressure to win is greater than ever, leaving general manager Stan Bowman with the difficult task of improving the roster while working with limited salary-cap flexibility.
The Oilers did manage to make several notable moves.
Edmonton traded defenseman Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks after Nurse requested a change of scenery. San Jose agreed to absorb his full contract, and after some initial hesitation, the veteran defenseman ultimately agreed to the move on July 1.
The Oilers also made significant additions during free agency. Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen signed a one-year deal after winning the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes, while defenseman Ryan Shea agreed to a five-year contract shortly after the Nurse trade.
Despite those changes, Edmonton still has a potentially significant problem heading into the new season.
Oilers Still Have Major Questions in Goal
Goaltending was an area Edmonton attempted to address throughout the 2025-26 campaign. The team acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth before the season, traded Stuart Skinner for Tristan Jarry in a midseason deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins and later acquired Devon Levi from the Buffalo Sabres this summer.
Adding Andersen gives the Oilers another experienced option and makes the position look deeper than it did a year ago. However, depth does not necessarily eliminate the uncertainty surrounding the group.
Levi remains a promising young goaltender, but his limited NHL experience makes it difficult to know how he will perform under playoff pressure. Ingram has shown he can be reliable but has yet to establish himself as a true No. 1 goaltender. Jarry struggled badly after arriving in Edmonton, while Andersen brings plenty of experience and proven ability but is nearing 40 and has dealt with significant injury issues throughout his career.
There is certainly a path for one of these goaltenders to get hot at the right time. Andersen, for example, played a major role in Carolina’s recent championship run and lost just once during the first three rounds of that playoff journey. Still, expecting him to replicate that performance is difficult given his age and injury history. The Oilers also do not have the same defensive structure that helped Andersen succeed with the Hurricanes.
At this point, Edmonton has few realistic options for making another major change in goal. The team has already brought in two new goaltenders, and one of them could emerge as the early favorite to take the crease. Unless the Oilers somehow pull off a blockbuster deal for a goalie such as Connor Hellebuyck, making another move at the position could be unnecessary.
For now, Edmonton appears poised to enter the 2026-27 season with this collection of goaltenders. All four are unlikely to remain on the roster simultaneously, but each could have a role to play as the season unfolds.
Ultimately, the Oilers’ Stanley Cup hopes may once again depend on whether one of their goaltenders can deliver an unexpected run of elite play when it matters most.
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