The Edmonton Oilers will look like a much different team when they take the ice for the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n
After a disappointing 2025-26 campaign, GM Stan Bowman made it clear there would be changes in the offseason, and he\u2019s stayed true to his word.<\/p>\n
The Oilers have made several big changes, which have included hiring Mike Babcock<\/a> in favour of Kris Knoblauch, as well as trading defenceman Darnell Nurse<\/a>. They\u2019ve also rejigged their goaltending by signing Frederik Andersen<\/a> and trading for Devon Levi.<\/p>\n Bowman also made the decision to walk away from several pending UFAs, including Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, Curtis Lazar, and Connor Ingram. They\u2019ve shored up that depth with acquisitions such as Mathieu Joseph and Shakir Mukhamadullin, while also signing defenceman Riley Shea<\/a> to a five-year, $20-million deal.<\/p>\n All this to say, the Oilers\u2019 lineup will look far different this coming season. How Babcock deploys his lines remains to be seen, though this is our projection into how things could shake out on opening night:<\/p>\n Isaac Howard \u2013 Connor McDavid \u2013 Zach Hyman Extras: Colton Dach<\/p>\n Mattias Ekholm \u2013 Evan Bouchard Extras: Ty Emberson, Spencer Stastney<\/p>\n Frederik Andersen Should the roster play out this way, it would mean that the likes of Mattias Janmark, Max Jones, and even goaltender Tristan Jarry could be sent to the AHL. It\u2019s also possible that the Oilers aren\u2019t done adding to their roster.<\/p>\n Thanks to moving out Nurse\u2019s entire $9.25-million cap hit, the Oilers still have some money to work with<\/a>, should they feel the need to do so. As per Puckpedia, they currently have $7.25 million in cap space.<\/p>\n Though there aren\u2019t a ton of intriguing names left on the free-agent market, one to keep an eye on is Claude Giroux. Oilers insider Bob Stauffer has suggested him as a potential target, and he would certainly help add some more offence to this group.<\/p>\n
Vasily Podkolzin \u2013 Leon Draisaitl \u2013 Matt Savoie
Ryan-Nugent-Hopkins \u2013 Jason Dickinson \u2013 Kasperi Kapanen
Trent Frederic \u2013 Josh Samanski \u2013 Mathieu Joseph<\/p>\n
Jake Walman \u2013 Connor Murphy
Riley Shea \u2013 Shakir Mukhamadullin<\/p>\n
Devon Levi<\/p>\n