Frederik Andersen will not be ready for Edmonton’s opening work after suffering an undisclosed injury in offseason training, putting Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi at the front of the Oilers’ crease picture. Jarry is projected to open as the starter, with Levi backing him up while Andersen recovers.
Oilers notebook: A crowded crease, a new coach and another push from McDavid and Draisaitl
SEO Title: Edmonton Oilers 2026-27 Notebook: Goaltending, Lines and Mike Babcock
Meta Description: Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi begin the Edmonton Oilers season with Frederik Andersen injured, while Mike Babcock takes over a club led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Andersen joined Edmonton on a one-year deal July 1 after helping the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup last spring. The 36-year-old was hurt in Game 3 of the Final against the Vegas Golden Knights and missed the final three games. His regular-season line was 16-14-5 with a 3.05 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage across 35 starts, but he found another level in the playoffs, going 13-2 with a 1.89 GAA and .910 save percentage in 16 starts.
Until Andersen is cleared, the Oilers need steadier work from Jarry. Edmonton acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, but his play varied and Connor Ingram eventually took over the top job. Levi, obtained from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, has a real opportunity to establish himself despite not appearing in an NHL game since 2024-25.
Levi, 24, owns 39 NHL appearances with a career 3.29 GAA and .894 save percentage. Florida selected him in the seventh round, No. 212 overall, in the 2020 NHL Draft. He has also represented Canada at the 2021 World Junior Championship, the 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2023 World Championship. A strong opening month could keep him in the battle for starts even once Andersen is back.
Projected lines and pairings
| Unit | Projected deployment |
|---|---|
| First line | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — Connor McDavid — Zach Hyman |
| Second line | Vasily Podkolzin — Leon Draisaitl — Mathieu Joseph |
| Third line | Isaac Howard — Jason Dickinson — Kasperi Kapanen |
| Fourth line | Connor Clattenburg — Josh Samanski — Trent Frederic |
| Defense Pair 1 | Mattias Ekholm — Evan Bouchard |
| Defense Pair 2 | Jake Walman — Connor Murphy |
| Defense Pair 3 | Ryan Shea — Shakir Mukhamadullin |
| Goaltenders | Tristan Jarry; Devon Levi |
Injured: Frederik Andersen (undisclosed injury).
After the horn
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 last season, good for second place in the Pacific Division, before Anaheim knocked it out in the Western Conference First Round. The early exit followed consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, with the Florida Panthers defeating the Oilers both times.
There will be no shortage of firepower around McDavid and Draisaitl, but the blue line and team defending must tighten. Edmonton surrendered 3.23 goals per game last season, ranking 25th in the NHL. The Oilers benefited from a weak Pacific field while finishing second a year ago; Anaheim and the San Jose Sharks are expected to be tougher opponents this time around.
The biggest new face is behind the bench. Mike Babcock returns to the NHL for his first season as Edmonton coach after being brought out of retirement. The 63-year-old has not coached in the League since Toronto dismissed him 23 games into the 2019-20 campaign.
Babcock enters with 700 victories, 12th-most in NHL history, over 1,301 games and 17 seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Maple Leafs. His résumé includes the 2008 Stanley Cup with Detroit, plus gold medals coaching Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics, as well as the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
One forward worth watching is Isaac Howard. The 22-year-old split last season between Edmonton and Bakersfield, recording two goals and three assists in 29 NHL games. With Bakersfield, he scored 24 times and added 26 assists for 50 points in 47 AHL outings. The 2025 Hobey Baker Award winner arrived from Tampa Bay in exchange for Sam O’Reilly on July 8, 2025, and could be ready for a regular NHL shift.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins remains a key connector on McDavid’s wing and on the power play. Though limited to 72 games last season, the 33-year-old still reached 20 goals for the seventh time in his career. McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins were involved on 45 goals together, including 16 of Nugent-Hopkins’ 20 goals set up by the captain.
Nugent-Hopkins’ peak season remains 2022-23, when he posted career bests of 37 goals, 67 assists, 104 points and 53 power-play points. He has scored at least 10 power-play goals in two of the past four seasons. Edmonton led the NHL with a 30.6 percent power play last season and has finished among the League’s top five in six of the past seven years.
His shot profile still points to useful offense: 14 of his 20 goals came from high-danger ice last season, and his 46.0 percent offensive-zone time ranked in the 94th percentile among forwards. His average fantasy draft position was 139.7, leaving room for a rebound if he stays healthy.
Next puck drop — Sept. 29, 2026
The 2026-27 NHL regular season opens Sept. 29. Edmonton begins the year with Jarry and Levi tasked with holding down the crease until Andersen is available, while Babcock takes over a roster still built around McDavid and Draisaitl.
