Tristan Jarry has emerged as Mike Babcock's early favorite for the Edmonton Oilers' starting job, and the reaction has been immediate.
Allan Mitchell of The Athletic identified Jarry as the current frontrunner to open the 2026-27 season as Edmonton's No. 1 goaltender.
The projection caught Oilers fans off guard. Many expected the crease competition to remain wide open until training camp and preseason offered a clearer answer.
Nothing has been finalized. Babcock will still evaluate every option once camp opens, with preseason performance expected to carry serious weight.
But entering camp with the inside track changes Jarry's position. He's no longer just another goalie fighting for starts. He becomes the man everyone else must chase.
-
That creates pressure before the first puck is dropped. Every rebound, missed assignment and difficult sequence will be examined through the lens of a potential starter.
Mike Babcock faces an early crease decision
Babcock must decide whether Edmonton needs a clearly defined starter or a more balanced tandem. Naming one goalie early could create stability, but it also carries risk.
A poor opening stretch would put the entire plan under scrutiny. In Edmonton, uncertainty in the crease can quickly become the biggest story around the team.
Jarry's positioning and rebound control will receive close attention. The Oilers need predictable saves, clean puck management and a goalie who can calm the bench when coverage breaks down.
Edmonton's offensive talent can erase some mistakes, but the club can't spend another season asking its top six to cover every soft goal or late-game breakdown.
The early designation also changes the locker-room dynamic. Competing for an open job is one thing. Trying to unseat an identified favorite creates a different level of urgency.
Jarry now has a direct path toward the opening-night assignment. But holding that position through camp will matter far more than receiving an offseason endorsement.
Oilers fans clearly aren't sold yet. Jarry's first challenge won't be winning the job on paper. It will be earning trust once the shots start coming.
Should Tristan Jarry open the season as Edmonton's starter?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Elliotte Friedman drops a explosive report on a substantial NHL offersheet
