Could the Edmonton Oilers return the same goaltending tandem as last season?

Connor Ingram was expected to hit the free agent market next Wednesday when free agency opens, and there’s been little noise about a possible extension — until Thursday. Sportsnet’s Mark Spector said Ingram would welcome coming back to play for the Oilers.

“Sounds like Connor Ingram is bullish on re-signing with Edmonton, though negotiations are ongoing,” wrote Spector. “Bowman with goalie irons in a few fires. A lot of options between the pipes in EDM right now.”

The Ottawa Senators are reportedly interested in Ingram’s services, as well, in a depleted free agent market. With Alex Tuch’s name off the board, Sergei Bobrovsky might be the best free agent available.

This is despite coming off his worst season in the NHL with a 3.07 goals against average and a .877 save percentage. Bobrovsky is going to turn 38 in September, and reportedly wants a long-term contract worth $6-7 million.

Frederik Andersen, Stuart Skinner, and Cam Talbot are some of the biggest names in the free agent pool.

At this point, there’s been no speculation the Oilers want to try moving Tristan Jarry, who will be $5.375 million against the salary cap for the next two seasons, and struggled for much of his tenure after being acquired from Pittsburgh.

Once being promoted full-time to the Oilers in December, Ingram boasted a 16-10-3 record with a 2.60 goals against average and a .899 save percentage. Those numbers suffered in the playoffs, with a 2-3 record and a 3.86 GAA and .876 save percentage.

Ingram has the highest save percentage of any UFA goalie who played more than five NHL games in 2025-26 to revitalize his career after dark times.

At his end of season media availability, Ingram said he learned a lot by playing in a Canadian market in the playoffs.

“I learned it’s different,” he said. “We talk a lot about playoffs and things like that. It had been a while since I played in the playoffs, so to go from the regular season into the playoffs, it’s a difference.

“When you haven’t been in it for a while, you kind of forget what it’s like to play in that kind of intensity, and buildings that aren’t usually very loud get pretty loud.

“This year taught me as a Canadian market, as a goalie, this is probably as hard as it gets for us, and I did it. So, I mean, that’s something I’ll fall back on whether it’s here or anywhere else in my career. If you can play here and play in the playoffs here, you’ll be fine just anywhere else.”

The Oilers are running it back with two of Ingram’s teammates so far. Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy accepted five-year contracts to remain in Edmonton earlier this week.

Dave Pagnotta was a guest on Oilersnation Everyday earlier this week, talking about the goalie market. The Oilers may look to pry a young up-and-comer like Sebastian Cossa out of the crowded goalie pipeline in Detroit, or target veterans like Jordan Binnington, Sam Montembeault, or Adin Hill.

He said two netminders on the trade block told him they’d waive to come to Edmonton.