NHL insider says Oilers won't address their biggest weakness at trade deadline
The Edmonton Oilers are an all-around dominant team with very average goaltending, and yet, NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes the Oilers won't trade for a goalie at this deadline.
Stuart Skinner has struggled mightily against top 10 teams this season, and Calvin Pickard isn't trusted at all with those matchups. Along with consistency problems, there's major cause for concern going into the playoffs.
Edmonton Oilers will not trade for goaltender this season
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli in a recent edition of the OilersNation Everyday Podcast, trading for a goalie is far down Stan Bowman's list for ways to improve the team.
- Frank Seravalli
Interestingly enough, the trade market for NHL goaltenders this season seems to be incredibly thin. Rebuilding teams do not have goalies that are interesting to contenders, so the reduced demand around goalies may drive down the price. There could be an expected goalie that is traded, perhaps for a slight perceived overpay.
The major benefit to the Oilers current goalie situation is that although it isn't elite, it's very cheap.
Up tight against the salary cap with their elite players, Skinner and Pickard's low salary is crucial to the Oilers roster construction. However, if Kane is out long term, they'll have some room for trade.
The Oilers offence and defence are both performing near a top 5 level in every ranking, but their goaltending jumps out as a major weakness. It would be a significant risk to enter the playoffs with such obviously weak goaltending, but the Oilers seem intent on doing so.
