Edmonton Oilers face injury and depth concerns for 2026-27 season

The Edmonton Oilers face significant challenges heading into the 2026-27 NHL season following a disappointing playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks. Despite Connor McDavid signing a two-year contract extension that maintains his $12.5 million cap hit, the team has struggled with consistency and depth. McDavid recorded 138 points during the 2025-26 season, but teammate production declined, with no other player reaching the 100-point mark.

Injury concerns are mounting as the team prepares for training camp. Frederik Andersen, Matt Savoie, Mattias Janmark, and Alec Regula are all expected to be unavailable for the start of camp. In response to these setbacks, management is considering the free-agent market. While the team has nearly $2 million in cap space, Stan Bowman indicated that while professional tryout offers (PTOs) are a possibility to bolster the roster, they are not a guaranteed strategy.

Leon Draisaitl has expressed concern regarding the team’s current trajectory, noting that the roster appears to be moving in the wrong direction.