The Oilers’ Goaltending Question Hasn’t Gone Away—It Has Just Changed

With the Edmonton Oilers set to start the 2026-27 NHL season, issues such as new head coach Mike Babcock’s coaching methods, injuries and roster depth have buried what could be the most important question: how will the goaltending hold up? Have the Oilers finally solved what has been an achilles heel for them during the Connor McDavid era in Edmonton? Will the trio of Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen provide the Oilers with goaltending good enough to win a Stanley Cup or will they leave the Oilers searching for answers in the crease yet again?

There Are No Easy Answers in Edmonton

The pressure is on both Jarry and Levi to perform while Andersen heals from his injuries that have forced him to the sidelines until December. If Jarry comes out of the gate with a repeat performance of last season, the Oilers could be in trouble.

Levi, who has been looking for a chance to become a full-time NHL goalie, will need to prove that he’s more than capable of being a regular NHLer. Time will tell, and if one or both goalies don’t come through, it could become dejavu all over again in Edmonton regarding their goaltenders.

Will Andersen Return to Stanley Cup Form When He Gets Back?

Andersen was impressive in last spring’s run to the Stanley Cup while he was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. However, as hockey fans may recall, he got injured in Game 2 of the Final series against the Vegas Golden Knights. He had to give way to goaltender Brandon Bussi, who guided the Hurricanes to Stanley Cup glory after taking over in Game 3. Will Andersen return to form when he finally hits the ice for the Oilers? Or has the wear and tear of playing 13 seasons in the NHL finally caught up to the soon-to-be 37-year-old veteran?

What Does Edmonton Need From Its Goaltending for Babcock’s System to Work?

If the defensive structure of the Oilers improves under Babcock and assistant coach D.J. Smith, perhaps Edmonton doesn’t need spectacular goaltending every night. Maybe they just need a key save at the right time – which is something the team has lacked at key moments over the past few seasons. Time will tell whether Oilers general manager Stan Bowman’s goaltending plan for the 2026-27 season will finally do the trick for a franchise hungry for consistency in the crease.

Healthy Competition Could Give the Oilers a Good Problem to Have

If Jarry and Levi come out like a house on fire to start the season, the Oilers are obviously going to be in a great place defensively. It could mean a difficult decision will have to be made later in the season when Andersen gets back. With Andersen out for this long, it may take him a while to shake off the rust and find his form. In truth, that means that both Jarry and Levi have until at least January to carry the torch and get themselves established. Hopefully for the Oilers, they make it difficult for the coaching staff to find a way to get Andersen in the lineup. That may depend on where the Oilers are in the standings.

Is This the Season When Goaltending Stops Becoming an Issue in Edmonton?

Oilers brass and the fans are no doubt tired of watching goalies on other teams steal games. Maybe it’s the Oilers’ turn. Jarry could return to early-career form, Levi could catch fire after finally getting a chance to play regularly in the NHL, and Andersen could recapture his form when he returns, leaving the Oilers in the best spot they’ve been in years. Goaltending feels like a roulette wheel in Edmonton, and maybe after all the seasons of trial and error, the trio of Jarry, Levi and Andersen will provide the Oilers with the goaltending to win it all. If not, where do the Oilers go from here? That’s another question for another day.