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Four big questions for the Edmonton Oilers with four weeks until opening night

Photo credit: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

By NHL_Sid

Aug 30, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2026, 12:43 EDT

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As August winds down, the 2026-27 NHL season is quickly approaching for the Edmonton Oilers. The team’s first preseason game will be on September 19, followed by its official season opener on September 29 when they host the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Place.

As we head into training camp and the start of the season, several key questions surround the Oilers as they prepare for a pivotal year. Without further ado, here are four big ones with four weeks remaining until opening night.

*All data via Natural Stat Trick and EvolvingHockey

Will the Oilers add any players heading into or during training camp?

The Oilers were dealt an early setback on Wednesday with news that Matt Savoie will miss training camp after suffering an off‑season training injury. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports that Savoie is expected to return in late October. Meanwhile, Mattias Janmark is also projected to miss the start of the regular season.

With both Savoie and Janmark – two key penalty killers – unavailable, and with meaningful cap space still at their disposal, OilersNow host Bob Stauffer hinted at the team adding a free‑agent forward with PK experience. It’s worth noting that Savoie led all Edmonton forwards in shorthanded TOI last season.

Interestingly, the list of remaining UFAs contains some noteworthy names. If the Oilers are looking for a top-nine forward with offensive upside, players such as Michael Bunting or Vladimir Tarasenko remain available. Bunting, in particular, is an interesting fit; his underlying offensive metrics are strong, and he previously play well alongside Auston Matthews in Toronto. Perhaps there is upside here for Bunting to be an effective complementary winger for Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl.

However, Stauffer’s comments point more toward a forward with penalty‑killing pedigree. In that scenario, Eeli Tolvanen stands out as a compelling option at the right price. The 27‑year‑old has posted 35‑plus points in each of the past three seasons and logged over 130 shorthanded minutes during that span. He offers both top‑nine offensive potential and PK ability. However, if Edmonton prefers to preserve cap flexibility for the trade deadline and target a cheaper depth piece, someone like Philipp Kurashev is a reasonable consideration.

Some have floated Luke Glendening as a possibility, but that’s a move I’m far less enthusiastic about. His on‑ice impacts – both offensively and defensively – have graded below replacement-level, and his teams have been heavily out‑scored and out‑chanced with him on the ice. Not a fan.

Which defenceman starts the season as Edmonton’s 2LD?

I would presume that Evan Bouchard will be paired with his regular partner in Mattias Ekholm to begin the season to form Edmonton’s top pair. Connor Murphy is locked in as the right-defenceman on Edmonton’s second pair.

However, the left-defenceman on that second pair is currently a question mark. It is positioned to go to one of Jake Walman or Ryan Shea.

At the moment, Walman seems like the more likely candidate. Although Shea was signed this summer, Walman has been part of the organization for over a year and is entering the first season of his seven‑year, $49 million extension. More importantly, he played a significant role during Edmonton’s run to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, stepping up effectively while Ekholm missed nearly all of the first three rounds due to injury.

Walman struggled in the 2025-26 season, but it is important to mention he sustained two substantial injuries and spent considerable time playing on his off‑side, an unfortunate combination that clearly contributed to his struggles. Heading into 2026-27, he should be back on his natural side and, hopefully, fully healthy.

That said, Shea should not be overlooked. He excelled in a top‑four role for Pittsburgh last season and, frankly, outperformed Walman by a wide margin. Given that Walman finished the year on the third pair next to Ty Emberson, it’s entirely possible the Oilers keep that duo intact while starting Shea next to Murphy.

We’ll see who D.J. Smith ultimately decides.

What does Matt Savoie’s injury mean for Isaac Howard?

Matt Savoie’s injury is an unfortunate setback. After a difficult start to his rookie season, the 22‑year‑old played exceptionally well following the Olympic break, posting a 62 percent goal share at five‑on‑five and recording 19 points in 24 games. A strong sophomore start would have been an ideal continuation of that momentum he built.

His absence, however, may open a door for Isaac Howard.

Howard is Edmonton’s top prospect, and a crucial part of the organization’s long‑term planning as the core moves into its early‑to‑mid 30s. His scoring upside is significant, and the Oilers clearly envision him and Savoie as long‑term fixtures in their top six.

Under normal circumstances, Howard might have faced limited minutes in 2026-27. The team has multiple different wingers with strong cases to play in the top-six. But, Savoie’s injury could give Howard an early opportunity to prove he belongs.

Perhaps Connor McDavid could centre Zach Hyman and Howard to begin the season, while Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin, and Kasperi Kapanen remain together. That leaves Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins and Jason Dickinson anchoring a strong third line. In my view, this simultaneously creates a balanced top nine and gives Howard a legitimate chance to showcase his ability.

That being said, the answer to that question will be dependent on the next and final one.

Will Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl play on the same line?

In a recent OilersNow interview with Bob Stauffer, head coach Mike Babcock seemed to hint that he is leaning toward deploying Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line to start the season.

Stacking the top line is hardly a new idea. Every coach in the McDavid-Draisaitl era has experimented with it extensively, and the appeal is obvious. Together, they form one of the most dominant offensive duos in the league.

There is also a statistical case for reuniting them. McDavid’s five‑on‑five production has dipped without Draisaitl over the past two seasons, largely due to finishing issues. Outside of Draisaitl, McDavid’s wingers have struggled to consistently convert the chances he creates, resulting in only a +4 goal differential for his line. From the standpoint of maximizing McDavid’s individual output, pairing him with Draisaitl makes sense, and of course, Draisaitl too sees a significant improvement.

The problem, however, lies in the ripple effect throughout the rest of the lineup. Historically, loading up the top line has not always translated into better overall team results as it weakens the top nine. In particular, a big issue I have with this option is that Ryan Nugent‑Hopkins is simply not a second‑line centre on a cup contender; he has a 44 percent goal share without McDavid and Draisaitl over the past three seasons. Jason Dickinson, while an excellent defensive centre, is not an ideal 2C either.

In my view, Edmonton is best keeping McDavid and Draisaitl on separate lines to maintain a balanced forward group. We already know Draisaitl and Vasily Podkolzin can drive an elite goal share together on the second line, and the only question is who fills the third spot, whether Kasperi Kapanen, Matt Savoie, or another option. Meanwhile, the focus should be on finding the right wingers for McDavid. Perhaps Isaac Howard thrives there, or the Oilers use their available cap space to acquire a more proven piece at the trade deadline. Regardless, I believe the Oilers have a much more well-rounded group with their two superstars apart.

Time will tell how the line combinations will ultimately shake out this season.

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