The Edmonton Oilers have started a new NHL season with a 4-0 record against Canadian teams in pre-season play. Yes, the opponents were not Stanley Cup contenders but we saw many differences in the initial look of the 2026-2027 Oilers.
While the Oilers lineup mainly consisted of rookies playing, they managed an above 80% penalty kill percentage; they only had 5 goals against or an average of 1.25 goals against average in 4 games and Connor and Leon’s ice time, when playing, was under 20 minutes a game.
These changes were talked about in the off season and we observed them all with the new Oilers roster. Was it because of Mike Babcock’s coaching system or did the players have something to prove this year? It might have been a combination of both, but I like those statistics. They now enter into the NHL regular season with a very strong positive vibe.
Oilers had plenty of pleasant surprises
Success in the pre-season rarely continues into the regular season. New players are granted significant ice time and we often expect them to excel.
Isaac Howard, Ryan Shea, Viljami Marjala, and Alex Formenton all had very good games and demonstrated skill, poise and speed that will earn them spots on the open day roster or they will play NHL games in the upcoming season at some point. Although it was announced two days ago that Marjala will be sent to Bakersfield, I do expect him to play for the Oilers before American Thanksgiving. He has speed and great hockey IQ that could fit will on the line with Draisaitl. He is only 23 years of age but will have a bright future with us as he matures in Bakersfield.
I have liked what I have seen in our new blue liner, Shea. I can see why he was traded to the Oilers. He may be on a pairing with Shakir Mukhamadullin for the start of the season and Shea’s experience should allow Mukhamadullin to mature well and become a shut down pairing. Mukhamadullin is only 24 years of age and has size that will help with pushing opponent’s first or second line attack squad to the outside and away from high danger zones.
Shea has demonstrated his offensive skills in the first pre-season game but I think will be utilized against opponent’s first or second line attack squads and on the penalty kill. I think we see the return of a great penalty kill team for the Oilers similar to what we saw in 2024 playoffs when we had Brett Kulak and Cody Ceci. The Oilers have the talent to achieve an over 80% penalty kill in the regular season but need the unity of play and consistent structure to excel in defending a lead and defending their zone.
Oilers excellent goaltending could be a nice problem
It has been years since we have had great goaltending in Edmonton. We have traded away promising goalies and have traded for promising goalies. Management has not picked the right goalie combination to get the Oilers to the Stanley Cup finals and win it. Stuart Skinner was supposed to the goalie for us to do that but he was not good enough and the Oilers defense was not good enough to support Skinner.
Out he goes and in comes Tristan Jarry and then, in a surprising move from the 2026 Stanley Cup winning team, comes Frederik Andersen. These are significant moves but Jarry did not demonstrate excellent play after he was acquired in December 2025 and an unknown to start the season. Andersen is now injured and will most likely not start the season due to a “tweaked knee that needs rest” according to Stan Bowman. With the surprising retirement of Connor Ingram, the goalie situation is now an interesting scenario for the Oilers – who will be the tandem into the season? Both Devon Levi and Jarry have played well in the pre-season and I do believe they will be our goalie tandem to start the season.
Honorable mention should to Connor Ungar. This young and undrafted player has been amazing on every team he has played on with statistics to clearly indicate he can play at any level, even in the NHL. We saw him for over 20 minutes in one pre-season game with a 1.00 save percentage and was the back up to Jarry in the 2-1 win against the Canucks. I wish him all the success in Bakersfield and hope to see him soon in an NHL game.
My prediction is that we will go into the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2027 with a Andersen/Ungar tandem. My confidence in Jarry is low but I hope he proves me wrong. I really like Connor Ungar and have voiced my opinion several times in articles for Oil on Whyte. He is a “diamond in the rough”, is 24 years old, 6’ 1” and 203 lbs to suggest he will not be pushed around and be a clutch goalie for the Oilers soon. In his interview with Tony Brar during a pre-season game, Ungar appears to a well spoken young man that is keeping a level head as the rises up from the ECHL to the AHL and hopefully to the NHL.
The mark of Mike Babcock
I recently wrote about the impact of Mike Babcock. I talked about how he has coached other teams in the past, what his expectations were of players and how has he utilized players. I think he has demonstrated what we suspected and will motivate this team to a successful start to the season. He appears to be ready to coach this team based on the comments I have heard in interviews.
In a pre-game interview on September 26, 2026 he pointed out that he is having “fun” and the team appears to be having “fun”. He was asked about ice time for the superstars and specifically commented that “it does not matter who you are, you cannot perform at high intensity from game to game”. He did not specifically say who he was talking about but we know it is about the usage of Connor and Leon. As mentioned earlier, under Babcock, we have seen over 20 minutes with McDavid and Draisaitl. Which is a good thing as these two superstars will get a chance to rest playing 4-6 less minutes per game under coach Babcock.
This will be significant over the course of the regular season and as we get close to the NHL playoffs in April 2027, whereby a rested and, hopefully, injury free Connor and Leon can shine and get this team to the NHL Stanley Cup finals again. I like the answers that Babcock is giving in interviews and has shown his confidence as a seasoned NHL coach.
I expect the Oilers to have a great start to the regular season with many new faces, a new goalie and new and seasoned coach.
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