Oilers' Preseason Injury Wave Opens the Door for Devon Levi in Net

The Edmonton Oilers are opening their 2026-27 training camp with a crowded medical room, but general manager Stan Bowman is choosing to view the early adversity as a runway for emerging talent.[2]

The team announced this week that four players—goaltender Frederik Andersen, forwards Matt Savoie and Mattias Janmark, and defenseman Alec Regula—will miss the start of camp due to various offseason injuries.[1]

The highest-stakes absence is Andersen. The 36-year-old veteran was brought in on a one-year, $2.8 million contract on July 1 to stabilize the crease after backstopping the Carolina Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup title.[1]

According to Bowman, both Andersen and the highly touted Savoie are expected to be sidelined until late October, meaning they will miss the critical opening weeks of the regular season.[3]

Janmark is also facing an uphill battle. The veteran forward is still recovering from a season-ending surgery performed in late March to address a chronic issue, and his timeline to return to game action remains fluid as he ramps up his conditioning.[7]

While an injury to a newly acquired starting goaltender would typically induce panic in a win-now market, Bowman has publicly downplayed the severity of the situation. "We're not worried about this," Bowman stated, noting that the absences create an immediate opportunity for others to get a longer look from the coaching staff.[2]

Nowhere are the stakes higher than in the blue paint, where the Oilers have spent the entire Connor McDavid era searching for a permanent, reliable solution.[4]

With Andersen out, the spotlight shifts squarely onto 24-year-old Devon Levi. Edmonton acquired the young netminder from the Buffalo Sabres this summer in a buy-low move, sending a 2028 third-round pick the other way.[4]

Levi was once considered the premier goaltending prospect in hockey, posting a staggering .952 save percentage to win the Mike Richter Award at Northeastern University, before his development stalled during a rushed transition to the NHL with Buffalo.[4][6]

Now, Levi finds himself in a direct battle with veteran Tristan Jarry. Jarry arrived in Edmonton last December but struggled mightily to find his footing, posting a dismal .858 save percentage down the stretch of the regular season.[5]

Because Levi is no longer waiver-exempt, the Oilers cannot easily send him to the American Hockey League without risking losing him to another club. That contractual reality makes his NHL development an immediate, unavoidable priority for the organization.[4]

The runway is officially clear. If Levi can translate his undeniable raw athleticism into a strong training camp and a solid October, he has the chance to do more than just hold the fort. He could force head coach Mike Babcock's hand and finally seize the long-term starting job this franchise has spent a decade searching for.[1][6]