Friedman: Oilers continue to canvas goalie market, scouting Canadiens trio

The Edmonton Oilers could be eyeing up another goaltending deal with the Montreal Canadiens, but the club isn’t interested in making any sort of panic move.

This, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, who said Saturday during their broadcast the Oilers had been eyeing all three of the Habs’ goaltenders.

“The Oilers do continue to look at the goaltender market. A number of teams were in Montreal, so was Edmonton there looking at all three of Montreal’s goaltenders,” said Friedman. “I don’t believe there’s anything imminent there, I just think it’s the Oilers continuing to do their due dilligence.

“They’re determined not to make a panic trade that they’ll regret, but there’s no question with every loss, like the one they had (Saturday) afternoon, the focus continues more on them.”

Ever since Jack Campbell hit the waiver wire the other week, there’s been a natural connection between the Oilers and Canadiens. Edmonton needs a goaltender to backup Stuart Skinner, and potentially be his 1B. Montreal is carrying three goaltenders — Jake Allen, Sam Montembault and Cayden Primeau — on their active roster. Put two and two together, and it makes sense.

Dating back to when the Oilers entered the NHL, the two teams have come together on three trades involving goaltenders.  The latest was in Jan. 2018, when the Oilers traded a fourth-round picks to the Habs for Al Montoya, who appeared in nine games for the Oilers posting a 2-2-2 record, a .906 save percentage and 2.94 GAA in what were his final NHL games.

Ben Scrivens was traded from the Oilers to Montreal in December 2015 in exchange for Zack Kassian, but one more deal saw a goaltender swap cities: Randy Exelby in 1989, who was acquired for cash. Exelby, however, appeared in just one game with the Oilers, allowing five goals against in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 2, 1990.

As for the Habs today, the most likely goaltender they’d look to move would be Allen, who has a 3-4-1 record, .907 save percentage and .354 goals against average.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.