Hockey News ranks Oilers 20th in NHL; warns of danger in 2026-27 season
The venerable publication's senior correspondent cites goalie concerns, depth losses, and questions about coach Mike Babcock's fit as reasons for pessimism about Edmonton's roster moves.
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The Hockey News, the sport's most established publication, has ranked the Edmonton Oilers 20th among 32 NHL teams heading into 2026-27 — a stark assessment of a roster featuring Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and Evan Bouchard, who led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025.
Senior correspondent Adam Proteau lists six concerns. First, young teams like Anaheim and San Jose will improve as their stars mature, while established contenders in Los Angeles and Vegas remain formidable in the Pacific. Second, while GM Stan Bowman signed veteran defenseman Connor Murphy and forward Jason Dickinson, "the Oilers did not add or retain the final piece of the puzzle," Proteau writes. Third, Edmonton lost Darnell Nurse in free agency, leaving the defence corps thinner than a Cup contender should have. Fourth, the Oilers lost depth players Roslovic, Henrique, and Lazar — experienced contributors to the lineup. Fifth, Bowman hired Mike Babcock as coach instead of retaining Kris Knoblauch, marking Edmonton's fourth coaching change since 2019. Sixth, goaltending carries question marks: Frederik Andersen is nearly 37 and hasn't played more than 35 regular-season games in four years; Tristan Jarry struggled after injury last season; rookie Devon Levi is inexperienced.
"Thus, there's a real danger surrounding this Oilers team in 2026-27," Proteau concludes. "Edmonton didn't have the worst off-season of any team, but the Oilers needed to do more to keep up with the rest of the improving Pacific teams, and they didn't do so."
As HOC reported in July, the Oilers emerged as winners of NHL free agency after shedding Nurse's contract without retaining salary, freeing cap space for potential trades. The newsroom debate over whether the roster can contend will intensify when training camp opens in September, where five key battles — starting goalie, top-six wingers, bottom defence pair, and fourth-line centre — will shape the team's direction.
The facts
Where did the Edmonton Oilers rank in The Hockey News's preseason NHL standings?
The Hockey News ranked the Edmonton Oilers 20th among 32 NHL teams heading into 2026-27.
What defensive losses did the Edmonton Oilers suffer in the offseason?
The Edmonton Oilers lost defenseman Darnell Nurse in free agency, leaving their defence corps thinner than a Cup contender should have.
Who did the Edmonton Oilers hire as their new head coach?
The Edmonton Oilers hired Mike Babcock as coach, marking the team's fourth coaching change since 2019.
