The 2023-24 Edmonton Oilers made it all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final after starting the season 2-7-1. The team’s goal share through those first 10 games (40.5 percent) put the Oilers in a massive hole. From that point forward, coach Kris Knoblauch rode his best players through the end of the season to ensure the playoffs and the best possible seeding.

Ideally, an NHL team pushing for a Stanley Cup would enter the season ready, and start as it means to go. With a new coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Babcock, the evaluation process must take place in a tight window. What does that mean? The first portion of the season could see many changes. Expect recalls from the AHL, trades and waivers.

Finding a starter in net

The Oilers badly need goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi to start strong. Goaltending success is tied to strong defensive play by skaters and keeping the puck in the other end of the ice, but goalies are the last line of defence. Frederik Andersen’s injury is one of several that will affect training camp. The veteran’s return date is vague,  leaving the starter’s net open for Jarry, with Levi receiving his biggest chance yet to secure a position as an NHL regular.

A fast start has eluded the team in recent years. In the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season, Edmonton’s goalie tandem struggled. At five-on-five, Stuart Skinner posted a .902 save percentage in 257 five-on-five minutes. Jack Campbell (.879 in 211 minutes) struggled so badly he lost the starting job. In the fall of 2024, it was Skinner (.890 in 321 five-on-five minutes) who faltered, with Calvin Pickard (.924 in 174 minutes) saving the day.

Last fall, the team started 4-4-2, an improvement on 2024-25 (4-5-1) and 2023-24 (2-7-1). Skinner (.910 in 308 five-on-five minutes) was rock-solid, while backup Pickard (.872 in 195 minutes) stumbled out of the gate.

The pressure will be on Jarry and Levi from the opening whistle. Both must respond, or Bowman will be forced into making another expensive deal for an alternative.

Savoie’s short-term replacement

Matt Savoie shone during his rookie season. He began with fourth-line work and penalty-killing chores, then moved up to the top line with Connor McDavid and flourished. At 22, Savoie is the most valuable player under 25 in the entire organization.

Due to his impressive two-way ability and instant chemistry (Savoie thinks along with McDavid very well), Babcock will be impatient to get the young winger back into the lineup. Until his injury is healed, however, veteran Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the obvious choice for No. 1 left wing.

There are other options. Ike Howard is a talented but unproven talent. He will surely get a look in training camp, but Babcock focuses on defensive awareness, which is not a strength for the young scoring winger. Quinn Hutson has a strong reputation for being effective without the puck, and scored 30 goals as an AHL rookie last season. He should get a look.

A long-shot option, but a good one, is rookie Josh Samanski. Despite his youth (24 years old) and inexperience (just 24 NHL games), he can play centre or wing. Samanski is shy offensively, but could be the defensive conscience for the high-octane top line containing McDavid and one of Leon Draisaitl or Zach Hyman.

The smart bet is Nugent-Hopkins getting the push, but Howard could make it interesting with a strong September.

Quick-change artist

Babcock and associate coach D.J. Smith are new to the club, with only Paul McFarland and Peter Aubry as notable coaches from Edmonton’s 2025-26 staff. Lack of familiarity with the emerging talent may be an issue, and that could lead to early roster shuffles and call-ups. Babcock is mostly a “set it and forget it” coach, but the first 10 games could see some sway if results lag behind expectations.

Management responded quickly to slow starts in recent seasons. In 2023-24, the team fired coach Jay Woodcroft very early and dispatched defenceman Philip Broberg to the AHL Bakersfield Condors, and goalie Jack Campbell’s last game for the team came on Nov. 4. In 2024-25, Knoblauch faded centre Derek Ryan’s usage and Travis Dermott played his final game Nov. 19 before being put on waivers in December.

In December last season, Bowman made the big goalie trade (Jarry for a package that included Skinner and Brett Kulak), Troy Stecher and Noah Philp were lost to waivers, David Tomášek moved back to Europe and the team acquired Spencer Stastney from the Nashville Predators. The changes were extensive and may have been one of the reasons the 2025-26 roster didn’t gel as in previous seasons.

Babcock and Smith will have to make quick decisions in a short window. The injuries to Andersen, Savoie, Mattias Janmark and Alec Regula add to roster confusion. That favours veterans; Babcock may choose to send youngsters like Howard, Hutson and Samanski to the minors until the staff gets a better handle on the roster.

Anticipated changes

Savoie isn’t projected to miss a long period of time based on Bowman’s comments, but injuries to Oilers players sometimes begin as “day-to-day” and last for weeks. Stastney is in a tough spot to make the team and could be dealt during camp. Edmonton surrendered a third-round pick to get him, so Bowman is unlikely to waive him outright. The injuries to defencemen don’t have a schedule, and teams always need eight (or more) during the year. Edmonton could start the season with an unusual roster, housing three goalies, eight defencemen and 12 forwards.

There could be some training camp surprises, too. Wingers Max Jones and Connor Clattenburg don’t get mentioned often, but both men play an aggressive game that could impress Babcock. Owen Michaels is the only right-handed natural centre on the roster, and Aku Räty is an unknown but could surprise. Eduards Tralmaks’ combination of size, speed and scoring ability is also worth watching.

The 2026-27 edition of the Oilers will be far less famous on the wings. Evander Kane and Corey Perry are bigger names than Howard and Hutson, but the team put off the future for too long. Babcock could begin the year with veterans, but Savoie will have company in the under-25 group by this time next season.