Oilers 2026-27 Player Previews: Frederik Andersen

The 2026-27 season starts this month, so let’s continue our Edmonton Oilers player preview series. The last player we looked at was superstar Leon Draisaitl, and now we turn our attention to goaltender Frederik Andersen.

The Oilers signed Andersen to a one-year, $1 million contract with bonus incentives. The veteran netminder is coming off a Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was lights out in the first three rounds of the playoffs, before things unravelled in the Stanley Cup Final. He eventually lost the net to Brandon Bussi, who finished the job.

The Danish netminder posted an impeccable 1.41 goals-against average (GAA) and a .931 save percentage (SV%) in the first three rounds. But in the Stanley Cup Final, he had a 4.44 GAA and an .815 SV% in 3 games. He still finished the postseason with a 1.89 GAA and a .910 SV%. The Oilers would love to see those numbers in the playoffs. If they had gotten that quality goaltending the last few seasons, they likely would have won a Cup.

Unfortunately, his regular season was poor. He posted a 3.05 GAA and an .874 SV% in just 35 games. Those were his worst numbers in both GAA and SV% in his career. So, was last season an outlier? The Oilers are about to find out. With that said, here’s his 2026-27 player preview.

Can Andersen Stay Healthy?

Andersen’s health remains the biggest question mark. He suffered a knee injury in Game 2 of the final, affecting his play. He was eventually replaced.

The veteran netminder is still dealing with that injury. The Oilers announced that he would miss most of October, and maybe longer. That’s incredibly concerning. The Oilers will need to get by with an inexperienced Devon Levi and Tristan Jarry, who struggled mightily since his acquisition last season.

Andersen can be a difference maker when healthy, but he hasn’t been able to stay on the ice. He has a 2.59 GAA and a .913 SV% in his career. He has been a great goalie, and Edmonton made an awesome bet with this signing. It was low-risk, high-reward. He has a low cap hit for the short term, and he immediately upgrades their goaltending. This lingering injury was always concerning when he was signed, which is why a three-goalie system makes sense. Hopefully Jarry and Levi can carry the load in his absence.

Best Case Scenario

The best-case scenario is that Andersen returns to form after his injury and plays at an elite level. When he returns, he must be sheltered. He can’t be overworked, because Edmonton will need him for the playoffs. Hopefully all three goalies play well, and they can split the games accordingly. Goaltending by committee should be the objective.

If Andersen can start 35 games and have a 2.50 GAA and a .910 SV%, that would be outstanding. He also figures to be a massive part of their playoff run, and his bonus incentives prove that. He has a $1 million cap hit, with an additional $1.8 million in potential bonus money. He will earn $600,000 if he plays 10 games, and another $400,000 if he plays 20 games. Plus, he will make $200,000 for each playoff series Edmonton wins, in which he plays 50 percent or more of the games. He has motivation, and if he reaches these bonuses, the Oilers would have had a great season.

Worst Case Scenario

The worst-case scenario is that Andersen’s injury is worse than expected. Knee injuries can be volatile, especially for goalies. Even if he returns, there’s no guarantee that he will produce solid results. Anything under 20 games would be disappointing. That would mean he didn’t reach his first two bonuses.

It would also be brutal if he replicates his terrible regular-season performance from last season. A GAA over 3.00 with an .885 SV% would be unacceptable. Edmonton’s goaltending will be under a microscope once again. If they don’t produce results, you’ll hear about it in the media and from the passionate fan base. Andersen has an opportunity to solidify the position and help the Oilers get over the hump. He must stay on the ice and give them a chance to win.

What should we expect from Andersen this season? Keep following The Hockey Writers as we continue the Oilers’ player previews in anticipation of this season.