Edmonton Oilers reportedly nearing contract with Brock University goaltender Connor Ungar

The Edmonton Oilers are “leading the charge” when it comes to signing Brock University goaltender Connor Ungar, according to Ben Steiner of CBC Sports.

Ungar was named U Sports Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season after posting a .932 save percentage across 26 regular-season games and a .928 save percentage over six playoff games for the Badgers.

The Calgary native led Brock to a 21-7-0 record this season, good for first place in the Ontario University Athletics West Division. The Badgers swept the Windsor Lancers in two games in the OUA quarter-finals but then got edged out in the semi-finals in three games by Toronto Metropolitan University.

The 22-year-old played what could be his final game with Brock on Thursday. The Badgers were the No. 8 seed in the U Sports University Cup because of their regular-season result and they were dropped 4-0 in the first round by the No. 1 seeded University of New Brunswick Reds. Ungar turned aside 34 of 38 shots in the loss.

Though Ungar has four more years of eligibility remaining to play for Brock, he’ll surely look to capitalize on his incredible season and sign with an NHL club. That was the case a few years ago when undrafted goaltender Logan Thompson posted a .934 save percentage in his first OUA season and signed an entry-level contract with the Vegas Golden Knights the following summer.

The Oilers have five goaltenders under contract right now and it isn’t certain which ones will be back with the organization next year.

Stuart Skinner is in the first season of a very team-friendly three-year contract and will undoubtedly be one of Edmonton’s goaltenders in 2024-25. Jack Campbell has played well in the American Hockey League since clearing through waivers but is a buyout candidate two years into the five-year contract he signed in the summer of 2022. Calvin Pickard has been very effective in Campbell’s place but will be an unrestricted free agent in the off-season.

Top goaltending prospect Olivier Rodrigue will be a restricted free agent again in the summer, this time with arbitration rights. The team’s second-round pick from the 2018 draft has a .918 save percentage in 27 games with the Bakersfield Condors this season and could soon see an opportunity with the NHL club.

Ryan Fanti, who the Oilers signed out of the NCAA a couple of years ago, will see his entry-level deal expire in the summer. He posted a .959 save percentage in six playoff games for the Fort Wayne Komets of the EHCL in 2022-23 and has a .912 save percentage over 13 games for the team this season.