It’s early to project the opening-night roster for the Edmonton Oilers, but there are compelling reasons to do so. The large increase in salary cap (a $104 million ceiling in 2026-27) means every NHL team has room to wheel. It’s also a fun exercise since the Oilers haven’t named a head coach, so we don’t have to adhere to a risk-averse roster.

Here’s a first blush look at the Oilers’ 2026-27 roster.

Goalies
Player2026-27 cap2025-26 SP

$5.375M

0.892

$812,500

.930 (AHL)

When general manager Stan Bowman dealt for Tristan Jarry in December, the Oilers’ depth chart in goal was set for the next two seasons. The organization is committed to the player, so the internal analytics and eye test must be positive. Goaltenders are difficult to evaluate because of what is happening defensively in front of them, but the consensus seems to be that a more organized defence will mean improved results in net.

The rumours have the Oilers looking for a ”goalie of the future” with names like Sebastian Cossa (Detroit Red Wings) and Devon Levi (Buffalo Sabres) in play. I’ve chosen Michael DiPietro, blocked on the Boston Bruins depth chart, because he had an exceptional year in the AHL and would require a smaller asset cost to acquire than Cossa or Levi.

The overall cost of the goalies comes in at a solid number. The Jack Campbell buyout ($2.6 million toward the cap) is several years from expiring, though.

Defence
Left DefenceRight Defence

Mattias Ekholm ($4M)

Evan Bouchard ($10.5M)

Morgan Rielly ($7.5M)

Connor Murphy ($4M-est)

Jack Walman ($7M)

Ty Emberson ($1.3M)

Spencer Stastney ($2M-est)

The prediction here is that Bowman will deal Darnell Nurse to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Morgan Rielly. There is a gap in cap hit. The Oilers would be offloading most of $2 million in cap, suggesting a sweetener would be required from the Edmonton end. In addition, the Oilers sign pending UFA Connor Murphy in this model, and set sail with a new second pairing compared to last fall.

The deal is not a flat-out win for either team. Nurse had a difficult season in 2025-26, but the late regular-season run with Murphy, who came over from the Chicago Blackhawks at the deadline, may give management pause. In 289 five-on-five minutes together down the stretch, the tandem delivered a 57 percent goal share, via Natural Stat Trick. Nurse’s endurance and foot speed remain quality.

However, the need for a superior passer should make the deal worthwhile for Bowman. Rielly’s max foot speed is also strong despite his age (32). His shot is a positive, and his skill set should fit well on the second pairing with Murphy.

Rielly’s prowess on the power play will be less in play with the Oilers, as Evan Bouchard brings the complete range of skills to the power-play quarterback position. It’s possible the two play together with the man advantage, but Rielly is more likely to occupy the second unit. Rielly did struggle against elites in 2025-26, via Puck IQ, but finished with a positive Dangerous Fenwick (similar to expected goals) relative to teammates. Both defencemen should age well enough to help their teams over the length of the current contracts.

Centre

There’s no good reason to deploy Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line. The NHL free-agent pool has few centres, and the Oilers would do well to avoid the frenzy completely at the position. Edmonton’s depth chart at centre is outstanding; it’s best in the NHL, as long as McDavid and Draisaitl are on separate lines.

Player2026-27 Cap2025-26 Points

$12.5M

138

$14M

97

$5.125M

56

$975,000

4

$900,000

6

The McDavid and Draisaitl lines will play the elites most of the time, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins playing a new role: third-line centre outscoring the soft parade opposition (lesser opponents). Nugent-Hopkins may also serve as a mentor for young players like Ike Howard on the line.

Josh Samanski doesn’t score much, but could be the key defensive conscience on a powerful fourth line. The impact of a physical line over a long playoff series is evident every spring. A recent example was cited by James Mirtle and Sean Gentille at The Athletic, as the Carolina Hurricanes’ fourth line was key in an important victory during the series against the Montreal Canadiens.

Wingers

The Oilers must get younger, and an offer sheet to Mavrik Bourque of the Dallas Stars brings in a skill winger for a second-round pick compensation. He’s 24, and young enough to grow with wingers Matt Savoie, Vasily Podkolzin and Howard. The Oilers would have the kind of youth on the wings that represents quality and depth, a sure sign of a substantial future.

Incumbent veteran Zach Hyman could play with McDavid and Savoie on the No. 1 line; Draisaitl could centre Podkolzin and Bourque; Nugent-Hopkins could drive the third line with Kasperi Kapanen and Howard.

The fourth line would feature Samanski in the middle, with Colton Dach, Trent Frederic and Max Jones on hand to fuel the fury of the fourth line.

Bottom line

The roster comes in with over $1 million in clearance, allowing Bowman to make moves early and late in the regular season. It’s been years since Edmonton had that kind of financial freedom. The math includes Campbell’s buyout total this year and bonus overages.

For Bowman, the new coach will have strength up the middle. Two strong defensive pairings, with Jake Walman as insurance on the third pairing. Two strong outscoring lines who can play elites straight up, along with a soft minutes third line that should be the talk of the league at times during 2026-27.

The fourth line should emerge as a favourite of fans. The trio of Dach-Samanski-Frederic were on the way to doing just that this spring when the coaching staff checked down and went a different direction.

The addition of Rielly gives the defence more skill, while Bourque gives the team a young winger who can hold his own versus elites while also contributing offensively.

The obscure addition may become the most important. Adding DiPietro allows the Oilers to bring in a goalie young enough to spend years in the starting role if he earns it. The organization has some interesting goaltenders on the horizon (notably Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar), and DiPietro both buys time for someone to emerge and offers the potential to fill the role himself.

Bowman may not deal Nurse, and the offer sheet has been used only twice (once successfully) by the team. It would be a good time to use it in an effort to add young skill to this aging Oilers roster.

AFP Analytics website was used in preparation of this article.