Oilers’ Very Early 2026-27 Roster Projection

The Edmonton Oilers are arguably entering their most important season in franchise history. With Free Agent Frenzy behind us, we now have clarity on the Oilers’ roster. General manager (GM) Stan Bowman made some fantastic moves during the first day of free agency, which should set the team up for success.

Anything other than a Stanley Cup is a failure, and Bowman did a solid job at extending their window. The Oilers aren’t a perfect team, but they are still very good. Last season was disappointing, but they should bounce back and be in the mix to compete for a championship. Let’s take a look at what their roster could look like come opening night.

Oilers Contracts & Cap Space

The Oilers re-signed some important unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Plus, they didn’t drastically overpay to do so. The contracts they handed out in free agency were great value, considering what some other teams paid. They solidified their top-four defence by re-signing Connor Murphy to a five-year deal with a $4.1 million cap hit. They also locked down their third-line centre by re-signing Jason Dickinson to a five-year deal with a $4 million cap hit. That was some tidy business by Bowman.

Then, the Oilers traded Darnell Nurse and his entire $9.25 million cap hit to the San Jose Sharks. The Oilers desperately needed that extra money, and they finally have salary cap flexibility. They have the means to make significant changes, and this offseason is off to a good start. The Oilers currently have just over $7.25 million in cap space with 13 forwards, six defencemen, and three goalies on the roster. They still have to sign current restricted free agents (RFAs) Colton Dach, Spencer Stastney, and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

Projected Roster

Here’s what the Oilers’ roster could look like on opening night, barring any other moves:

In the mix: Mattias Janmark, Mathieu Joseph, and Max Jones

Extras: Spencer Stastney and Shakir Mukhamadullin

The Forward Group

The forward group is largely the same as last season. They let Jack Roslovic, Adam Henrique, and Curtis Lazar walk to free agency. Roslovic is the only one to sign with a new team thus far, signing a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Oilers also gave Kasperi Kapanen and Max Jones new deals, while welcoming newcomer Mathieu Joseph.

The Oilers are also hoping that Isaac Howard takes a massive step forward and competes for consistent top-six ice time. If he’s on the second line alongside Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers could move Kapanen to the third line and utilize that depth. A third line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Dickinson, and Kapanen has the makings of a solid shutdown trio who could match up against other teams’ top lines. That would open up the top two lines to more favourable matchups.

There’s going to be heavy competition for spots in the bottom six, which is a good thing. Joseph, Jones, Dach, and Mattias Janmark should be competing for a fourth-line role. This is a solid forward group, but the Oilers could still look to add an impactful top-six winger via trade with their remaining cap space. Their lineup is slowly taking shape.

Defence & Goaltending

The main focus for Edmonton was improving the goaltending and solidifying the blue line, which they did. After trading Nurse, the Oilers signed Ryan Shea to a five-year deal with a $4 million cap hit to replace him. Shea had a breakout season, recording six goals and 35 points in 80 games with a plus-30 rating, averaging 18:53 per game. He will likely slot in on the third pair, but if Jake Walman struggles, Shea can step in and play top-four minutes. His most common partner last season was Kris Letang, so he has experience playing up the lineup and won’t be outmatched in the top four.

The Oilers also acquired 24-year-old Mukhamadullin in the Nurse trade. He and Stastney should be battling for a roster spot as the seventh defenceman. Mukhamadullin is a left-shot, but he has experience playing the right side, and that versatility is valuable. The Oilers have a surplus of left-shot defencemen who require waivers, so don’t be surprised if one is traded before the season.

The biggest concern was what the Oilers had planned in net. Well, they addressed their goaltending on the first day of free agency, and that should give the fan base confidence heading into this season. They acquired 24-year-old Devon Levi and a 2028 seventh-round pick from the Buffalo Sabres for a 2028 third-round pick. They got their future goaltender with high upside, who will be battling for the starting job in training camp.

Then, they signed 36-year-old veteran Frederik Andersen to a one-year deal with a $1 million base salary, with another $1.8 million in performance bonuses. Andersen won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes last season, so he brings a winning pedigree. He was in net for 13 of Carolina’s 16 wins, but he ultimately lost the crease to Brandon Bussi in the Stanley Cup Final.

He still had a 1.89 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%) in the playoffs, and the Oilers would love those numbers. He likely has a chip on his shoulder from losing the net in Carolina. This is a great gamble for Edmonton. Don’t be surprised if the Oilers keep a three-goalie tandem with Levi, Andersen, and Tristan Jarry, especially since the season is expanding to 84 games and considering Jarry and Andersen’s injury history. They have a security blanket between the pipes.

2026-27 Season Outlook

Like always, the Oilers have high expectations. They upgraded their goaltending, accumulated more cap space, and swapped Nurse for Shea on the blue line. On paper, this looks like a better team than last season. They’re one top-six forward addition from being considered elite. If they stay healthy, they could have a great season.

In a controversial decision, they also hired Mike Babcock as their head coach. Despite his off-ice issues, Babcock is a hard-nosed coach who implements a structured defensive system, which is what this team needs. They were too chaotic in the defensive zone, and Babcock should eliminate that. If they improve their defensive game, the results should follow.

What should we expect from the Oilers this season? Keep following The Hockey Writers for all your NHL content throughout the offseason.