The Edmonton Oilers goaltending scenario has been a subject of dialog in Oil Nation and for good cause. The present tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has not been adequate, and reasonably inconsistent to say the least. Their lackluster play has sparked commerce talks, and the Oilers wanting into the goalie market to search out an improve.
Stuart Skinner has had a tricky begin to the season, as he at present holds a 3.23 goals-against common (GAA), and an .882 save share (SV%) by way of 15 video games. With that stated, the Oilers shouldn’t quit on him. The Edmonton native had an identical begin final season, however he rebounded properly and was arguably the most effective goaltender within the league by way of the Oilers’ historic 16-game profitable streak. He had an unbelievable 1.33 GAA, and .953 SV% in January 2024, and he has the power to get scorching and put up related numbers as soon as once more. Regardless of this gradual begin, he nonetheless has a profession 2.75 GAA, and .907 SV% in 138 profession video games.
The Oilers drafted Skinner within the third spherical (78th general) in 2017. He’s nonetheless solely 26 years outdated, and the one homegrown participant drafted outdoors the primary spherical. The Oilers have strikes they should make forward of the commerce deadline, however buying and selling Skinner just isn’t one in all them. Listed below are three the explanation why buying and selling him can be a mistake:
Stuart Skinner’s Cap Hit
On the finish of the day, we dwell in a wage cap world, and whereas the Oilers have a couple of unhealthy contracts, Skinner’s just isn’t one in all them. The Edmonton netminder has a $2.6 million cap hit for this season and subsequent, earlier than he turns into an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in July 2026. Whereas his play has been underwhelming, his contract brings worth to a crew that’s at all times preventing to remain beneath the present $88 million wage cap. His wage gives flexibility to the group for the subsequent two seasons, particularly with Evan Bouchard needing a brand new deal, and Leon Draisaitl’s monster extension kicking in subsequent season. This crew wants to economize someplace, and proper now, it’s in objective.
This makes buying a goaltender extraordinarily tough. They would wish to search out somebody with an identical cap hit, or have their commerce accomplice retain some cash. There are usually not many upgrades that make near Skinner’s wage. The one notable participant that matches that invoice is Mackenzie Blackwood in San Jose. His cap hit is $2.3 million, and he’s a pending UFA. Nevertheless, the Oilers would wish to tackle the whole lot of his contract for the reason that Sharks don’t have any retained wage slots remaining. You might be solely allowed to have three gamers retained at a time. Since Blackwood is a pending UFA and Skinner has one yr remaining, is that deal price it for the Oilers? In the event that they do commerce for a goalie, they need to discover somebody to play in tandem with Skinner, not substitute him.
Oilers Have Larger Holes to Fill
Prefer it or not, Skinner is a reliable NHL netminder, and this group is not going to profit from dropping him, at the very least not till the top of his present contract. This crew has larger holes to fill, extra particularly, on the blue line. Their largest precedence needs to be buying a top-four defenceman to play alongside Darnell Nurse on the second pair.
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As a way to make trades, it is advisable have the cap area, and the belongings to take action. The Oilers have neither. The one prospects within the system with good commerce worth are Matt Savoie and Sam O’Reilly. On prime of that, within the subsequent two seasons, Edmonton at present has one first-round choose, each their second-round picks, and each their third-round picks. In the event that they commerce each their second, and third-round picks in 2025, they received’t be drafting till the sixth spherical. Though this crew is in win-now mode, they nonetheless have to replenish their farm system by conserving a few of their draft picks.
Resulting from their present wage cap scenario, any transfer the Oilers make will possible require wage cap retention which prices extra belongings. Due to this fact, this crew received’t have the belongings to accumulate each a goalie and a top-four defenceman. They’ll possible have to decide on one or the opposite, and a blueliner makes probably the most sense.
Goalies Are Too Inconsistent
Goalies could be extraordinarily inconsistent, and extremely hit-or-miss. For instance, look no additional than the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins. The Senators acquired Linus Ullmark from the Bruins after three unbelievable seasons in Boston. Nevertheless, that success has not translated together with his new crew, as he at present holds an underwhelming 3.10 GAA and .881 SV%. In the meantime, since Ullmark left Boston, Jeremy Swayman has additionally struggled, posting a 3.16 GAA, and an .888 SV%. That very same factor can occur with any goalie the Oilers purchase, so is dropping Skinner price that danger? What if the brand new goalie doesn’t carry out? There’s an excessive amount of uncertainty when buying a netminder, and the group wants to make sure that any transfer they make is a transparent improve.
This is a vital season for the Oilers, and they should hit a house run with any participant they purchase, just like the Mattias Ekholm commerce a couple of years in the past. With a top-four defenceman, what you’re getting, so there’s much less danger concerned. The Oilers will possible get one alternative to make a splash, in order that they higher make it depend.
