Devon Levi gets Oilers start and golden chance in net vs. Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers will hand the crease to Devon Levi on Thursday night in Vancouver, giving the 24-year-old his 37th career NHL start against the Canucks. The move comes just two nights after Tristan Jarry’s high-profile letdown, as Edmonton tries to avoid opening the Mike Babcock era with back-to-back losses to last season’s 32nd-place team.

For Levi, who previously broke into the league with the Buffalo Sabres, the assignment represents a significant opening in an organization still chasing stability in goal. The Oilers have cycled through the Mikko Koskinen–Mike Smith tandem and later Stuart Skinner with Calvin Pickard, and now are operating with a three-goalie setup built around oft-injured Frederik Andersen, heavily scrutinized Jarry, and the largely untested Levi.

The young netminder says he feels better equipped for this shot than at any earlier stage of his NHL journey, pointing to the added experiences he has gathered on and off the ice. Babcock framed the situation as an opportunity rather than added pressure, stressing that confidence must be earned and saying he expects Levi to embrace the stage in Vancouver.

Injury-depleted Oilers forward group in Vancouver

Levi’s task will be made tougher by an injury-riddled lineup in front of him. Zach Hyman is sidelined with an upper-body injury suffered in the Oilers’ final pre-season game against the Calgary Flames and is expected to miss roughly two weeks. He joins Matt Savoie and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, both projected top-six wingers, as well as centre Jason Dickinson on the sidelines.

With only 12 healthy forwards on the road trip, Edmonton has recalled Josh Samanski to centre the fourth line. At the morning skate, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid skated together on one line, leaving the Oilers thin and inexperienced down the middle beyond their two superstars. The injuries also strip away multiple regulars from Edmonton’s top power-play unit, adding another layer of difficulty to Babcock’s lineup decisions.

Chance for Levi to stake his claim in Edmonton’s crease

Beyond the immediate task of facing the Canucks, the bigger storyline is the chance for Levi to make a long-term impression. There is an obvious opening for someone to seize the number-one job on a roster built to contend for the Stanley Cup, and the organization is eager for a goaltender who can finally settle the position.

Levi has spoken about focusing on the present, looking to build his season “one block” at a time rather than fixating on owning the starting job by year’s end. Still, in a competitive window defined by McDavid and Draisaitl, his performance in Vancouver could serve as an early turning point. A strong start from Levi would not only strengthen his case in the internal pecking order but might also quiet — at least temporarily — the ongoing questions around the Oilers’ goaltending saga.