A lot can happen over the course of the year. That’s easily seen when you look at the Edmonton Oilers lineup to start last season compared to their roster ahead of tonight’s season opener against the Vancouver Canucks.

Below, we’ll compare the two. Players bolded from last year’s lineup are no longer with the team; those italicized are on this year’s team but are injured. Those bolded in this year’s lineup are newcomers, and those italicized were injured at the start of last year.

Last year’s opening-night lineup (2025-26)

Draisaitl - McDavid - Frederic

Mangiapane - RNH - Savoie

Podkolzin - Philp - Kapanen

Howard - Henrique - Tomášek

Ekholm - Bouchard

Nurse - Regula

Kulak - Emberson

Skinner

This year’s opening-night lineup (2026-27)

Howard - McDavid - Hyman

Podkolzin - Draisaitl - Kapanen

Formenton - Dach - Joseph

Jones - Michaels - Frederic

Ekholm - Bouchard

Walman - Murphy

Shea - Mukhamadullin

Jarry

How has the Edmonton Oilers’ roster changed since last season’s opener?

The changes are stark. In the forward group, there are five newcomers: Alex Formenton, Colton Dach, Mathieu Joseph, Max Jones, and Owen Michaels; and three newcomers on the blue line: Connor Murphy, Ryan Shea, and Shakir Mukhamadullin.

The goaltending department has been completely revamped, too. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard out, Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi in.

In total, nine players from last year’s opening day roster are no longer in the organization. Andrew Mangiapane was sent to Chicago, and is starting the year on their second line. Noah Philp has retired from hockey entirely after spending time in the Carolina Hurricanes’ organization last year. Adam Henrique is without a home to start the season, while David Tomášek left the team after 22 games last year to play in Sweden, but is spending this season with Czechia’s HC Dynamo Pardubice.

The blue line looks much different. The Darnell Nurse era ended this summer with a trade to the San Jose Sharks, while Alec Regula is banged up to start the year. Murphy arrived at the trade deadline, and has been a great decision, while Shea and Mukhamadullin both arrived this summer.

Never mind the on-ice lineup, the whole coaching staff has changed, too. Kris Knoblauch out, Mike Babcock in.

Buckle up. We’re hours away from puck drop.

Zach Laing is the managing editor at Daily Faceoff Edmonton and news director at The Nation Network. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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