And just like that, one week after it began, the 2026-27 NHL pre-season is over.

For the Edmonton Oilers, it couldn’t have come soon enough. After a long summer of waiting after getting bounced in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers came out swinging in the pre-season, capping off a perfect 4-0 with a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames Saturday night.

“It’s great to be done exhibition (games),” said Oilers head coach Mike Babcock. “I think we did lots of positive things during exhibition and we’ve learned a lot about our team. We can be way better. We understand that.

“We have to figure out our depth, for sure.”

Therein lies the problem. The games haven’t counted yet, and the team is already ravished. Matt Savoie and Freddie Andersen were banged up over the summer, something the Oilers could offset easily with Isaac Howard sliding up the lineup, and Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi tending the crease.

But losing Jason Dickinson........

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