Oilers ‘Inquired’ About Bruins Goalie Jeremy Swayman This Season

The Edmonton Oilers 'inquired' about Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman this season.

There was plenty of consternation all season long about the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending situation (again). They were linked in rumours to just about every netminder who was or even might be on the trade market. In fact, we are now learning, from insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, that Edmonton even inquired about the Boston Bruins’ newly signed starter between the pipes, Jeremy Swayman—and he was never really on the trade market.

As a restricted free agent, Swayman held out through all of training camp, as he and the Bruins battled it out through some turbulent negotiation talks. He eventually signed an eight-year, $66 million deal just days before the start of the regular season. He wound up, however, having an underwhelming first year as the full-time starter in the Boston net, and perhaps the Oilers felt they could capitalize on the situation.

Oilers inquired about Jeremy Swayman this season

According to Pagnotta, their “inquiry“ came well into the season, after he had signed the contract.

Meanwhile, Edmonton's No. 1 man, Stuart Skinner, had an up-and-down season himself, starting slowly (as did the whole team), ramping things up with an excellent December and January, before running into some troubles in the crease once again in February and March. With the trade deadline in early March, we can surmise that this is probably around the time that the Oilers poked around on Swayman.

Skinner stumbled again to start the playoffs and lost the starter's role to backup Calvin Pickard, who won six straight games, leading them to a first round victory, and into the second round. But alas, an injury to Pickard allowed Skinner to reclaim the job. And he's done so with flying colours.

Now, after all that, “Stu seems to be doing fine in net for the Oilers“, writes Pagnotta, as they head into the Stanley Cup Finals for a rematch with the Florida Panthers.

But after two straight years of a goalie rollercoaster ride, if this spring doesn’t end in a Stanley Cup triumph, perhaps the Oilers will once again hit the trade market, looking for a new man between the pipes. And maybe Boston GM Don Sweeney gets another phone call.