The Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending search has been a curler coaster journey that’s spanned a number of years, and whereas Stuart Skinner typically pulls you proper again in after a tough stretch of play, they will’t proceed to be fooled by his rope a dope act.
He and Calvin Pickard is likely to be beloved contained in the locker room, however there comes some extent the place a staff led by a 28-year-old Connor McDavid and 30-year-old Leon Draisaitl has to do what’s in the very best curiosity of successful a Stanley Cup—and on this case, meaning buying a professional beginning goalie.
Sadly for the Oilers and their followers, that may have to attend till the offseason when the wage cap image clears up, and groups across the league are extra keen to interact in blockbuster commerce talks.
For now, the choices are restricted, particularly given the monetary constraints and lack of true upgrades obtainable to focus on. That mentioned, their endurance might repay, as they’ll be capable to forged a a lot wider web this summer time, and Stan Bowman’s reported willingness to be ultra-aggressive at that point ought to be music to the ears of Oilers nation.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out three commerce targets Edmonton ought to pursue this offseason to place an finish to its woes in web.
Juuse Saros
This appears like the very best beginning goalie the Oilers might realistically get in the summertime. Saros has been labeled a dream goal for Edmonton, and relying on how poorly the remainder of the season goes in Nashville, he might very nicely be on the transfer as part of their teardown.
His stats in recent times, together with the seven years remaining at $7.74 million after 2025-26, would possibly scare some folks, nevertheless it actually shouldn’t. Let’s keep in mind this can be a bona fide star netminder who’s a workhorse (55+ begins in 4 straight years), the sort that hardly ever, if ever, turns into obtainable, and with the rising wage cap, $7.74 million gained’t trigger anybody to bat an eye fixed transferring ahead.
To not point out, if his worth stays the identical as what it at the moment is and even goes down some, the Oilers could be touchdown Saros at a reduction worth in comparison with what he gives at his ceiling. This appears like the right and most sensible transfer for Stan Bowman to pounce on ought to all of it line up the best way it tasks.
Jeremy Swayman
The place there’s smoke, there’s fireplace, and there’s been loads of smoke across the Oilers’ interest in Swayman over the previous couple of years.
After a number of implausible seasons in tandem with Linus Ullmark in Boston, Swayman and the Bruins went by way of an unpleasant arbitration case, and adopted it up with contentious contract negotiations that resulted in a last-minute eight-year, $66 million extension. Provided that, their relationship is much from excellent, which led Edmonton to verify in on his availability final offseason, and there’s no purpose they shouldn’t do the identical this coming offseason.
The 27-year-old has bounced again properly up to now in 2025-26, although the Bruins weren’t anticipated to be a playoff staff, and so they very nicely might fall out of the race by the Spring, convincing the entrance workplace to maintain promoting off items for futures. It will doubtless come at a better commerce value than that of Saros, however due to the age distinction with Swayman (3.5 years youthful), it is likely to be price the additional belongings.
Ilya Sorokin
Should you’re going to go all in, you would possibly as nicely verify in on everybody, and like Saros and Swayman, Sorokin has been linked to the Oilers previously, although these rumors haven’t been fairly as concrete.
The one purpose for that chatter was his underwhelming play over the earlier two seasons, which noticed veteran Semyon Varlamov take management of the online at occasions consequently. By way of 19 begins in 2025-26, Sorokin has been stable, nevertheless it nonetheless has but to resemble the ridiculous numbers he put as much as start his NHL profession, so it’s honest to wonder if he’s untouchable or not.
Given his age (30) compared to the Islanders’ new younger core centered round rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer, Sorokin is a a lot better match for Edmonton’s timeline to win, so might a package deal of future belongings to assist construct round Schaefer and others intrigue GM Mathieu Darche? It’s price a strive, particularly now that Lou Lamoriello and the outdated regime, who have been caught in their very own methods, are now not in cost.
Fallback Choices
Buying one in all these three aforementioned netminders is far simpler mentioned than achieved, so in the event that they aren’t believable, what might the Oilers resort to?
Why not verify in on the standing of Anthony Stolarz or Joseph Woll? There are damage considerations, although maybe they will issue that in to decrease the acquisition value.
Equally, there’s the Thatcher Demko (additionally been hampered by accidents) and Kevin Lankinen tandem out in Vancouver, the place the Canucks are open for enterprise on all people however Quinn Hughes… for now.
And if all of those choices are sought out to no avail, then the Oilers can at all times circle again to a Jordan Binnington or Tristan Jarry, so in the end, there’s no purpose to depart the offseason empty-handed.
Subsequent: Panarin’s Future & Newest NHL Commerce Buzz: Canadiens, Oilers, Rangers
