The Athletic has added a reporter to cover the Edmonton Oilers heading into the 2026-27 season. The reporter previously covered the Ottawa Senators and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL.
The Oilers are operating under immediate pressure. The team's core players are in their late prime, and the window is closing.
Edmonton brought in a controversial coach with an accomplished track record. The hire is aimed at helping the team get past recent shortfalls and win a championship.
The Oilers came close to Stanley Cup glory in both 2024 and 2025. Those near-misses have only raised expectations in Edmonton.
Connor McDavid, widely regarded as the world's best player, is the team's captain and the center of everything the Oilers do.
McDavid signed a two-year extension last October at an average annual value of $12.5 million — a below-market figure that put the franchise on notice. The organization now has two seasons to build a Stanley Cup contender around him or face serious consequences.
The reporter will track three storylines for the 2026-27 season: McDavid's two-year contract clock, coach Mike Babcock and the questions that follow him, and the team's three-goalie situation in net.
