Oilers Will Be Looking At Trade Market For Goaltending

Many will say that the Edmonton Oilers' goaltending is something that has had to be better for a number of years and they would be correct. It just wasn't good enough through the regular season or playoffs when it mattered this season. Stuart Skinner had a .889 SV% in the playoffs while Calvin Pickard, despite going 7-1, had a .886 SV%. With average goaltending, you could easily argue that the Oilers are the 2025 Stanley Cup champions.

But since the season is over and the Oilers have to move on, the plan is to gauge the trade market for a goalie this offseason. Free agency won't provide the Oilers with an upgrade. The only chance they had was Frederik Andersen before he re-signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. The trade market, although weaker, could be a hit and something that Edmonton cashes in on. There's no logical explanation to go into next season with the same two goalies in net, and I think Pickard will be the one moved.

From scouring the potential available goalies or goalies the Oilers could take a swing at, the list should include John Gibson, Jordan Binnington, Joel Hofer if the Oilers want to send an offer sheet to the St. Louis Blues, Elvis Merzlikins with cap retention, or possibly Tristan Jarry with cap retention in the hope he returns to form. Not all of those options are even great, but that's what may be serviceable. The Oilers can't be messing around if they acquire a goalie though. This is a Stanley Cup contender that can't have their weakness continue to be in net.

The Oilers will have to likely find more cap space if they are to make any of those potential trades. That will come with some forwards being reportedly shopped. GM Stan Bowman has added the right pieces to make the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup champions before and the Oilers should be confident in his ability to make the right additions moving forward with an entire offseason to work.

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