Frederik Andersen is the new face in Edmonton's crease, and the Oilers still haven't actually solved their goaltending problem.
This offseason looked productive on paper. Darnell Nurse got moved to the San Jose Sharks, clearing out a contract that had become a real weight on the roster.
Nurse posted 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points in 82 games last season, respectable enough, but the cap hit attached to it made this trade an easy sell for most fans.
Edmonton also rebuilt its blue line, adding Ryan Shea and Shakir Mukhamadullin while bringing back trade deadline pieces Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch got fired in the process, a move plenty of Oilers fans had been waiting on after his approach reportedly wore thin in the room.
Mike Babcock takes over behind the bench now, a completely different personality than what this group had grown used to.
None of those moves are the real story here though. It's what happened in net that has everyone talking.
Andersen's alarming regular season split raises real concern
Rather than bringing back Connor Ingram, Edmonton reportedly traded for Buffalo goaltender Devon Levi and signed Andersen to a one year deal.
It's the first real tandem shakeup this franchise has made in years, and getting a goalie with a Stanley Cup on his résumé feels significant on the surface.
But Andersen turns 37 this season, and he's coming off a rough one. He posted a .874 save percentage across 35 games, his most appearances in a single season since 2021-22.
That durability number matters. Andersen simply hasn't been able to handle a heavy workload in recent years, and nothing suggests that changes now.
Tristan Jarry is still on this roster too, posting a .882 save percentage across 33 games last season, numbers that haven't restored much confidence around the fan base.
Would Edmonton actually run a three goalie mix if injuries pile up, with Jarry as a fallback nobody fully trusts?
Levi arrives with limited NHL experience of his own, and questions remain about whether he's ready to handle a real workload if Andersen goes down.
Andersen was reportedly excellent in the playoffs with his previous team, which leaves an honest question hanging over this whole plan. Was the regular season the fluke, or was the playoff run?
If Andersen looks anything like his regular season self this year, Edmonton's goaltending problem doesn't get solved, it just gets a new name attached to it.
Every other move this summer looks like a clear upgrade. The tandem in net is the one piece of this roster nobody can honestly call one yet.
Will Frederik Andersen actually solve Edmonton's goaltending problem this season?
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