Edmonton Oilers

Andersen Could Have a Surprising Role with Oilers to Start 2026-27 Season

Is there a strong chance that Mike Babcock goes with Frederik Andersen as his starting goalie for the Oilers this season?

by
NHL Trade Talk
July 11, 2026

When Frederik Andersen signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers in free agency, the size of the AAV and the term on the deal suggested he was being added for depth. That might not be the case. Given his connection to Edmonton’s new head coach, there’s a pretty good chance Andersen gets a somewhat surprising role right out of the gate.

Don’t be shocked if Andersen starts the 2026-27 season as the Oilers’ starting goaltender. It would give him the nod over both the newly acquired Devon Levi and last season’s addition, Tristan Jarry.

According to Kurt Leavins of The Edmonton Journal:

“We know now that new Head Coach Mike Babock was critical to the acquisition of Freddie Andersen. G.M. Stan Bowman says Babcock spoke with his former Leafs tender a few times leading up to the signing. So, it is hard to imagine Andersen not being thought of as the #1 out of the gate, at least.”

Yes, it was Babcock who helped orchestrate Andersen’s signing by the Oilers. The two have history from their time in Toronto, and Andersen said he’s looking forward to helping Edmonton and his old coach.

Why Andersen As the Oilers’ Starter?

On paper, Andersen as the starter doesn’t make much sense. He’s already admitted he’s unlikely to play the lion’s share of games given his age and longevity. Still, there is a world in which he’s the No. 1 guy, even if 35 games is about his maximum.

There’s been plenty of talk about Edmonton potentially running a three-goalie setup, and it’s easy to see why—it’s not something you see often around the league. However, it is getting more commonplace, and for the Oilers, the setup makes sense. If Andersen gets 35, Levi and Jarry can split the other 49 games. That’s about 24 and 25 each.

As Leavins points out, on one side, the Oilers log more travel than any NHL team (about 86,000 km in 2025–26), so spreading out the workload among multiple netminders could help manage fatigue. There’s also the concern and inevitability of injuries. Between Andersen and Jarry, their history shows each will miss some time.

Knowing that, Andersen getting the call to start the season, and while he’s healthy, fits what Babcock might be trying to do.

Next: Mutual Interest Between the Oilers and 33-Goal UFA?