Top Oilers insider suggests GM Stan Bowman is shifting on goalie trade
Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman has consistently stood behind Stuart Skinner as the team's starting goalie this season, but new reports suggest he may be getting concerned.
Just yesterday, Stan Bowman shot down any idea of trading for a goaltender and backed Skinner and Pickard as their tandem - before the goaltending cost them another game against the Colorado Avalanche.
Oilers insider Bob Stauffer says Stuart Skinner's results should be concerning for Stan Bowman and Edmonton
After last night's loss to Colorado, Bob Stauffer raised the concern of Stuart Skinner's results against contending teams, and said the Oilers should be considering something.
Stauffer is the most plugged-in Oilers insider, whose messages often come from the top of the team. If he's raising concern, it's a significant issue for the team.
Stauffer is referencing Skinner's numbers against top 10 teams specifically. This season, Skinner has a brutal .867 save percentage and -10.2 Goals Saved Above Expected versus teams in the top 10 in league wide standings.
This should be a major alarm bell for a playoff starting goalie, facing only the NHL's best teams. Yesterday Bowman dismissed any concern about the Oilers goaltending, but Stauffer seems to be suggesting goalie concerns are felt.
- Stan Bowman
Hopefully Bowman's comments are just him not tipping his hand, or appearing too desperate to other teams that he wants to add a goalie.
Star goalie John Gibson would reportedly waive his no-move clause to join the Edmonton Oilers. There's slim other options for a guaranteed starting goalie, but Bowman will need to get creative.
It'd be incredibly risky for the Oilers to assume a very average goalie tandem could backstop them to the Cup Final two years in a row - last year it may have been just a fluke they survived through the Vancouver series.
The Oilers clear biggest weakness is goaltending, and it should be addressed this deadline - finally.
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