Goalies Options That Will Most Likely Come Available For Oilers

Calvin Pickard & Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers

Not many seem to think that the Edmonton Oilers are going to play the entirety of their third full season with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net. The most likely option is that Pickard will be pushed out or be traded to make room for an upgrade as Skinner is the younger goalie and the one with more upside.

Jason Gregor said, "I'll be surprised if after the trade deadline...the same two goalies in Edmonton are Pickard and Skinner. I just think it's inevitable there's going to be a change there."

Whether it is a young goalie the Oilers are looking at to help in the near future and beyond or a veteran to come in and provide and immediate boost to what has been in the net for the past number of seasons, there are options around the league right now and more that will become available throughout the season and in training camp.

Veteran options right now include UFA Ilya Samsonov, potentially Alexandar Georgiev, but I would be wary of this one, Tristan Jarry, and Joonas Korpisalo. Some are better than others and some may not even be seriously considered. Out of the bunch, I like Jarry the best considering what he has done over the course of his career. Samsonov will be cheap and could surprise.

The young goalies that the Oilers are rumored to already be looking at are ones like Nico Daws and Michael DiPietro, but I wouldn't be surprised if names like Samuel Ersson, Erik Portillo, Arvid Soderblom, or Devon Levi come up at some point if the team doesn't make a trade soon.

Pickard has stepped up and done a better job in a bigger role than many would have expected or even hoped for, but his time in Edmonton is limited. He is an NHL goalie, but not one that has to be leaned on more than the average backup on a Stanley Cup contender.