NHL Insiders Address Chance of Edmonton Oilers Making Goaltender Trade This Season

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Liam McCormick
November 26, 2024 (8:20)

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The Edmonton Oilers have had an inconsistent start to this season largely due to below average goaltending, but NHL insiders are saying it's not likely a trade will be made to address the position.

According to Oilers Nation, Insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that he believes the Oilers are fully committed to Stuart Skinner as their starting goalie.

»That's just not a priority for Edmonton. My understanding is the Oilers are not looking at [goaltending] at all right now.
For cap reasons, for other reasons, they're going to sink or swim with [Stuart] Skinner right now.»
- Pierre LeBrun

Oilers reporter Daniel Nugent-Bowman with the Athletic confirmed this yesterday, saying Oilers management views offfence as more of a problem than goaltending right now.

General Manager Stan Bowman was interviewed yesterday, and did say that he believes the struggles of the team this year are more so on the offence not performing to expectations - accurately saying that the defence has surprisingly performed well.

However, it was very telling that Bowman completely held back from saying anything about the state of Oilers goaltending.

Stuart Skinner and the Oilers are near last place in every major goaltending category. By goals saved above expected, the Oilers rank last in the league - and both Skinner and Pickard have save percentages below league average.

After the Oilers' loss to the Minnesota Wild, coach Knoblauch called out Stuart Skinner directly for his inability this season to string together two good starts.

The reality for Edmonton is that the Oilers roster can take over and dominate games if they're just consistently given league average goaltending. If Skinner can't handle that, then the Oilers need to make a deal.

Pierre LeBrun and Daniel Nugent-Bowman both admitted that the Oilers could become more willing to make a goalie trade if their results continue to be subpar through the season. It's not plausible that a team that wants to win the Stanley Cup could have the worst goaltending in the league.

In recent weeks, insiders have revealed that Ducks goalie John Gibson would waive his no trade clause to join the Edmonton Oilers this season. Another cheaper option, who's performed better this season, is San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood.

Skinner had a great bounce back game last time out against the New York Rangers, but the challenge for him will be keeping up that level of play. If he continues to perform far below league average, the Oilers will have to make a move.