Will the Edmonton Oilers deal with their goaltending points, or will they give attention to one other space of want?
TSN: Pierre LeBrun on the Edmonton Oilers, who’ve struggled of late. Followers might want their goaltending state of affairs addressed, however that is probably not a precedence for them.
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Jennifer Hedger: “How concerning the state of affairs in Edmonton proper now? We’ve been seeing the puck at the back of their internet fairly a bit recently.
LeBrun: “Yeah.
Hedger: “They’ve bought Calvin Pickard, they’ve bought Stuart Skinner. Clearly, they thought they had been going to have the ability to trip these guys, I’m guessing, via to the postseason, and it isn’t trying nice between the pipes for them.
Do you suppose that Edmonton goes to search for a goaltender? Are they searching for a goalie or there’s simply no person on the market that’s actually an improve on who they have already got?”
LeBrun: “So, I do know there’s lots of Oilers followers who don’t need to hear this, however Stan Bowman has informed different groups that his precedence is to not improve his goaltending, and I feel partially, as a result of he doesn’t see what he believes to be an automated improve in the marketplace.
And I perceive what individuals see properly, you already know, goaltending will not be adequate, proper now. Okay, who’s obtainable that you already know for certain could be that a lot better, proper? Okay, is Jordan Binnington obtainable? He had an amazing 4 Nations. He hasn’t had an amazing 12 months.”
Hedger: “Proper. Gibson?”
LeBrun: “John Gibson is on the market (left laste night time’s recreation with an harm), sure, and he would waive his no-trade to go to Edmonton. We’ve reported that earlier than, however he’s been inconsistent the previous few years. He’s bought two extra years on his deal at $6.4 million.
I don’t know that the Oilers view that as an improve on Stuart Skinner, the model of Stuart Skinner that helped him get to a recreation seven and a Cup Closing final 12 months. That’s the model that the Oilers nonetheless hope to financial institution on come playoff time.
No, the precedence for the Oilers, I feel, proper now, judging them, what I’m listening to across the league is that they’re making an attempt to improve the blue line.”
Hedger: “Proper.”
LeBurn: “That’s, that’s the place they’re making an attempt to go. They’re making an attempt to go get a defenseman. I sort of marvel about Brian Dumoulin in Anaheim (traded to the New Jersey Devils earlier as we speak), who’s a pending UFA. Now, the Geese now performs themselves into the periphery of the Western playoff race, so we’ll see whether or not or not they transfer him.
However I feel it’s crucial for the Oilers to improve on protection. But additionally, there is no such thing as a magic wand for what the commerce deadline at this level can do for the Oilers. I truly love their Trent Frederic pickup, however the reply comes from inside. They’ve been terrible for the reason that 4 Nations break. They bought to determine it out. ”