5 Edmonton Oilers players who could have bounce-back seasons
A lot of things went wrong for the Edmonton Oilers last season.
The team failed to generate much sustained success, limped into the postseason, and then got upset in the opening round by an upstart Anaheim Ducks team. It was an utter failure from every front, and there were a lot of different factors that contributed to the disappointing result.
Coaching was certainly an issue, something the Oilers hope Mike Babcock can fix, but they also had a number of key players who underperformed. The superstars did their job, but players down the lineup and between the pipes dropped the ball when Edmonton needed them most.
Most of those players, however, had injury issues that contributed to their lacklustre play and could very well return to form this upcoming season.
Who are those players? Here is a look at five bounce-back candidates for the Oilers for the 2026-27 season…
1. Trent Frederic
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images
Age: 28
2025-26 stats:Ā 4 G, 3 A, 7 PTS, 74 GP
Trent Frederic was easily the most disappointing Oilers player last season.
Fresh off signing a baffling eight-year extension with Edmonton, Frederic was expected to bring some stability to the Oilers’ bottom-six forward group. He had a reputation of being a straight-line player who can be physical and find the back of the net. Instead, the Oilers got a player who faded into the background on most nights.
Frederic said earlier this summer that he was still feeling the effect of a prior ankle injury but is feeling much closer to 100 per cent this summer. If he can stay healthy and get more opportunities under Babcock, Frederic seems like a good bet to rebound a bit.
2. Jake Walman
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Age:Ā 30
2025-26 stats:Ā 8 G, 12 A, 20 PTS, 51 GP
Jake Walman didn’t have a horrible season with the Oilers last season, but it was underwhelming.
He looked solid for Edmonton during their 2025 Stanley Cup run and was rewarded with a seven-year, $49-million contract extension last October. Unfortunately, injuries derailed Walman’s season, limiting the defenceman to 51 games and having a noticeable effect on his play.
He was also forced to play on his off-hand for a lot of the season. Getting healthy and now getting a permanent spot on his natural left side with Darnell Nurse’s departure could set him up for a much better 2026-27 campaign.
3. Kasperi Kapanen
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 30
2025-26 stats:Ā 8 G, 9 A, 17 PTS, 41 GP
“Bounce back” may not be the right word for Kasperi Kapanen, but he certainly could have a better season this time around.
The Finnish forward actually put up more points in fewer games with the Oilers, but did see his season limited to just 41 games due to injuries. When he was in the lineup, he actually seemed to be pretty effective, especially in the playoffs.
He earned himself a raise this offseason, and staying could see him break out this upcoming season.
4. Tristan Jarry
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Age: 31
2025-26 stats:Ā 18-9-3, .883 SV%, -4.1 GSAx
There is a lot of hope riding on Tristan Jarry having a bounce-back season.
He lost the starter’s job with the Oilers last season after going on a terrible run following his trade to Edmonton. Jarry has shown that he can be a great goalie in the NHL, and the hope is that a summer to acclimate to the organization, alongside an improved defensive scheme, can help realign him.
There will be plenty of competition between the pipes this season, and Jarry should have all the motivation in the world to take the reins.
5. Frederik Andersen
David Kirouac/Imagn Images
Age:Ā 36
2025-26 stats: 16-14-5, .874 SV%, -3.3 GSAx
A bounce-back season for Frederik Andersen? He just won the Stanley Cup; how could he “bounce back” from that?
It’s true that Andersen put together a generational Stanley Cup Playoff performance, but his regular season couldn’t have been further from that. The Danish goaltender struggled mightily in the regular season and lost more games than he won, with a dismal save percentage at that.
That seemed like an outlier for Andersen, who should post some better numbers this time around.