The Edmonton Oilers’ 2026-27 depth chart, one month before training camp

The Edmonton Oilers’ first preseason game is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19 at Rogers Place. The opponent will be the Winnipeg Jets, who first met Edmonton in regular-season action on Oct. 15, 1972 (the opening month of the WHA). The Oilers won that game, and pretty much every one that has mattered since.

This season’s Oilers are unique in the Connor McDavid era. Since the world’s best hockey player was drafted in the summer of 2015, the Oilers’ story each season is seen through the lens of the Edmonton captain. This fall, that spotlight will still be on McDavid (and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl) but the offseason move that grabbed the most attention came from hiring head coach Mike Babcock. The two superstars not only endorsed the hire, they were there at the genesis of the idea.

Since the announcement of Babcock’s return to the NHL, fans have engaged in deep discussions about Babcock’s deployment of the roster, who will be elevated or faded, and how many wins the team should deliver in the first 10 games of the year. (The consensus appears to be something like 5-4-1.)

Before it all begins, let’s look at a position-by-position depth chart leading into training camp.

Goalies 

The position is in a period of transition since the Stuart Skinner-Tristan Jarry trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins last winter. Jarry will have to prove himself able to outplay Frederik Andersen in order to keep the starter’s job. Babcock coached Andersen in Toronto, and that plus the fact Andersen backstopped the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final in the spring could mean Jarry is in the backup role at the start of the regular season.

Devon Levi, also new to the team, is the top young stopper on the depth chart. He’ll hang around the Oilers all year — GM Stan Bowman won’t risk waivers. At the AHL level, the Bakersfield Condors will enter the year with Matt Tomkins as the starter. Highly touted prospects Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar will push for playing time. Nathan Day appears destined for the ECHL Fort Wayne Komets, reflecting an increasingly strong organizational depth chart.

Left defence

The Oilers are robust on the left side of the blue line. The key is veteran Mattias Ekholm, who keeps delivering exceptional seasons despite being 36. Ekholm is an example of a player who was underrated due to playing behind a more famous skater (in this case, Roman Josi with the Nashville Predators) and then emerging as an impact player in a new NHL city. Ekholm is one of the best trade acquisitions in team history.

The second pairing should be a battle between Jake Walman and newcomer Ryan Shea. Walman has shown the ability to take on tougher minutes, but there is no safety net now that Darnell Nurse is a member of the San Jose Sharks. Walman’s skating and puck transportation is so good that he should win the day if he’s healthy, but Shea offers a significant challenge.

Shakir Mukhamadullin is a smooth skater and can play on the left or right, though Babcock probably uses him on his natural side. He is 24, has 83 games of NHL experience and was impressive against the soft parade last season, putting up a 57 percent goal share against the easiest competition last season in San Jose, per PuckIQ.

There’s a gap between Mukhamadullin and Spencer Stastney, who came over from the Predators in a deal last season. How big a gap is unknown, and will be left to Babcock to figure out. Time is of the essence, because Stastney is not waiver exempt and it is a distinct possibility the team would lose him. In the past, the team has erred on the side of caution, retaining the player in question; Brandon Davidson in the fall of 2015 is a famous example. Complicating the idea of keeping eight defencemen is the fact the Oilers are committed to retaining three goaltenders.

Bakersfield should be set no matter what happens to Stastney. The LHD prospect fans are most curious about is Damien Carfagna. Undersized but mobile and skilled, he was a revelation for the Condors last season. If he continues at the same level in 2026-27, he should make his first NHL appearance before spring.

Riley Stillman is a veteran with enough NHL experience to be a trusty recall, and Atro Leppänen has no NHL experience and brings enough chaos to be a concern. That said, his puck-moving ability and creativity are intriguing, and it’s possible he gets an NHL look this coming season. Tomáš Cibulka signed in the offseason out of the Czech league and is likely to spend the entire season in the minors.

Right defence

Evan Bouchard had to pass a large number of high-quality teammates in order to arrive as the third-best player on the roster, but he is there. A brilliant puck mover and power-play quarterback, he is also impressive as a five-on-five outscorer. Edmonton’s last great draft pick of this era, Bouchard is key to the team’s success.

Connor Murphy is a shutdown defenceman who added some much-needed calm after coming over at the deadline from the Chicago Blackhawks. His presence should help the team in five-on-five goal suppression and on the penalty kill. Ty Emberson is strictly third-pair right now, but he has played 433 minutes against elite competition for Edmonton over the past two seasons. He is maturing, and at age 26 has room to grow.

Josh Brown, like Murphy, is known more for his defensive abilities. Babcock mentioned him as an option for the NHL team, but the smart money is on Brown landing back in Bakersfield this fall. Alec Regula may be a more difficult decision: if he is healthy, the big defenceman can move the puck and is effective in coverage. Beau Akey is a quality prospect, but undersized and has had injury issues. Another year in the minors appears likely for him.

Centre

The centre depth has been covered at length recently, but it’s worth reiterating that the heart of this team is through the middle. McDavid and Draisaitl set the tone for the team, and the latest example is the Babcock hire. The two men have worked for a Stanley Cup for over a decade and campaigned to bring in a dedicated defensive coach. Their legacy is on the line, and part of that includes renewed dedication to goal suppression.

Jason Dickinson is the checking centre, and a real luxury for this team. He should help improve the penalty kill. I’ve chosen Trent Frederic as the fourth-line centre, mostly due to faceoff prowess. However, it could go to any number of wingers on the NHL roster.

Josh Samanski is a strong candidate for that fourth-line job in Edmonton, but may have more impact as an in-season call-up. The Bakersfield centre depth chart suggests Samanski as a strong top option sets up the roster of the Condors roster in a good way. Viljami Marjala is a fine skill centre at that level, Owen Michaels has no pro experience but the organization believes in him, and William Nicholl can fly and has shown he can help offensively.

Left wing

Matt Savoie earned the No. 1 left wing job on the McDavid line after the new year. Babcock likes to have wingers (and defencemen) aligned on their shooting side, meaning left wingers should be left shots. In Savoie’s case, there is no better option available, so the bet is the righty stays on the left side on the top line.

Vasily Podkolzin has established himself as Draisaitl’s left winger. He can score goals, make plays with the puck, and is excellent on the cycle and winning pucks in play along the wall. He also plays with a rugged edge and seems poised to blossom offensively.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was moved away from the No. 1 line after December and has settled into more of a goal suppression role. He has a great range of skills and could be a big part of the checking line with Dickinson. A strong outscoring trio that can take on tough opponents and a large percentage of defensive-zone starts would have great value to Babcock.

Colton Dach came over from the Blackhawks at the deadline and provides physical play and some offensive flair. Babcock may choose to run him with Frederic on the fourth line, as that combination was outstanding late in the regular season. Mattias Janmark is a veteran winger who can play centre and kill penalties, but his hands are gone and that is reflected in the erosion of his offence. He is unlikely to be a major factor in 2026-27 with the Oilers.

Max Jones is probably an NHL regular, but the numbers suggest he will need to start the season in the AHL. Should Frederic or Dach struggle, Bowman has a plug-and-play replacement just an airlift away. Down the stretch a year ago, Jones’ time with the Oilers saw a productive forward outplaying several higher-paid wingers.

Eduards Tralmaks was signed as a free agent over the summer and has a fascinating combination of size, speed and goal-scoring prowess. He is an older prospect but there appears to be a player here. Connor Clattenburg is a fan favourite because he hits everything in sight and has no fear. He also has some impressive hands and may emerge as a scorer this coming season in Bakersfield. Brady Stonehouse spent most of his rookie pro season in Fort Wayne (ECHL) and may spend another winter there in 2026-27.

Right wing

Zach Hyman is a wonder as a forechecker and can score goals in bunches. The key is his willingness to pay the price in front of the net, and the forechecking comes from a nonstop motor and pursuing the puck constantly. Hyman played under Babcock in Toronto and is very likely to enjoy a strong season with his former coach this season in Edmonton. Health is the only real concern.

Ike Howard played 29 games last season, so is not officially a rookie. However, he will need to impress the coaching staff with his ability to finish and dedication to checking and goal suppression. Edmonton needs Howard to develop into a perennial 25-goal scorer, so he is going to get his chance. The question is whether that comes at the beginning of the season. He started 2025-26 with Edmonton and was then sent down. Babcock might prefer a Bakersfield start and in-season call-up.

Kasperi Kapanen could be effective on the Dickinson line, but may move up to the Draisaitl line if Howard struggles early. Kapanen is a much better player when Draisaitl is his centre. Babcock will love Mathieu Joseph’s speed and aggression; he’s listed as fourth-line, but if healthy we could see him in a feature role. He was signed to replace Janmark in case the veteran winger wasn’t ready, but could be a substantial addition.

Quinn Hutson is one of the top recall options after a quality season in Bakersfield, with 30 goals as a rookie pro and a strong display of two-way ability, even earning some NHL time. Aku Räty was signed out of Finland and probably fills a checking role. If he emerges as an offensive player in Bakersfield, there’s an outside chance of a call-up. James Stefan is in a similar situation to Stonehouse: he does some nice things, but keeps getting passed by the crowd.

Bottom line

It all comes down to Babcock. We know shot and goal suppression will be more of a focus, and that should mean a decrease in goals surrendered. Fans might expect a corresponding decrease in goals for, but that may not happen. McDavid and Draisaitl score goals on turnovers with regularity, so more giveaways forced could lead to more goals.

As for players playing on their strong side, or discussions of Brown making the team and McDavid-Draisaitl playing together five-on-five, that will all be figured out in preseason and in the early days of 2026-27. That may mean painful losses early in the season, and some incumbents moving down the depth chart or out of the city.

This stands as one of the most intriguing Oilers summers in memory. Stay tuned.