logo
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Finding a true solution in net is the only way to salvage the Oilers’ window
alt
Alicia LaBine
May 18, 2026, 15:00 EDTUpdated: May 18, 2026, 10:37 EDT
Comments
The last time the Oilers had a starting goaltender with a save percentage above .910 was in the 2022-23 season, when Stuart Skinner was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy.
Connor McDavid’s prime has been wasted by poor defending and mediocre goaltending, and Stan Bowman’s attempt to solve this was Tristan Jarry, who makes $5.375 million for two more years, and hasn’t had a season above .910 since 2021-22.
After the acquisition of Jarry in December, he played in 19 games for the Oilers, had a dreadful 3.86 goals against average and .858 Sv%. He ended up becoming the backup to Connor Ingram, who hadn’t played NHL hockey in almost a year.
Ingram’s stats were also unimpressive. In the playoffs, he recorded a 3.86 GAA and .876 Sv% through five games, not a good enough showing for a team that has to prove to McDavid that they are capable of winning in the next two years.
So where do they go from here?
Unfortunately, the free agent market is not too promising for the goaltending position this off-season. Sergei Bobrovsky would be the lead candidate, however, he will be 38 years old next season, and is coming off the worst year in his career by a long shot.
His age and .877 Sv% in the 2025-26 season are factors that the Oilers should consider before potentially taking a shot at the future Hall of Fame goaltender. Other free agents this year are Connor Ingram and Stuart Skinner, two goalies that the Oilers have already taken their shots on.
Devan Dubnyk noted on Ask Dubey that he sees Bobrovsky is still capable of running it back for one more cup run, and at this point in time, that’s all the Oilers need. He has played in 117 playoff games, logging a 2.71 GAA and .907 Sv%, and as Oilers fans know all too well, he has two Stanley Cups to his name.
Still a trade would be optimal, but the Oilers don’t have much capital to make anything happen this offseason. In order to get a good goaltender, they would have to give up a top prospect like Isaac Howard Howard, Quinn Hutson, or Roby Järventie, or make the tough decision of sending away a current roster player.
The Oilers could try and get a guy like Filip Gustavsson. He has a winning record in his career of 111-74-26 and holds a 2.67 GAA and a .911 Sv%. His playoff metrics are identical to that, and the Minnesota Wild have been leaning into their young superstar Jesper Wallstedt, who is a soured name for Oilers fans following the 2021 NHL draft catastrophe à la Ken Holland.
He’s still in his prime at 27 years old and would be great for McDavid’s window with the Oilers, though the Minnesota Wild will not move on from him easily, so the Oilers would have to be prepared to offer Wild something worthwhile.
This might mean that a current roster player such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goes the other way, as the Wild have been seeking a solution to their lack of depth down the middle for years. The chances are the Oilers won’t want to move on from their longest-tenured player, and the Wild might want a younger option anyway.
Josh Samanski packaged with another prospect or some picks might also be enough to pry the goaltender from Bill Guerin’s grasp, but these are just a couple of ideas off the cuff.
Other options between the pipes are Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Pyotr Kochetkov of the Carolina Hurricanes, or one of the Buffalo Sabres’ goaltenders, assuming the Sabres don’t choose to roll them both as a tandem heading into next season.
As for Binnington, he raises all the same questions that Skinner, Jarry, and Ingram have. He can be really good, but can he be consistent?
It’s been seven years now since Binnington carried the last-placed St. Louis Blues to the Stanley Cup championship, and he has had quite the fall from grace. His career stats are mediocre, and he is coming off of his worst year with a stat line inferior to even Bobrovsky’s. However, his playoff stats are still a huge upgrade from the current Oilers goaltenders, with a 2.70 GAA and a .909 SV%.
As an aging goaltender, it would be quite the risk to trade away prospects or roster players, just to potentially receive Jarry 2.0. He has made Team Canada two years in a row, but that’s not saying a lot considering Canada’s current crop at the goaltender position. On the other hand, his play at the 4 Nations Face-Off and the Olympics sure did shut people like me up, who were unhappy with Canada’s decision to take him.
Maybe he could do that in Edmonton too. All we need from him is one heroic playoff run like the one he pulled off in 2019.
Another less expensive option would be getting Alex Lyon from the Sabres, who set the franchise record for longest win streak this season at 10. Not only is he a decent goaltender, but he is also a character that any team would love to have in their locker room. After losing character guys like Skinner, Pickard, and Brown, our team lacks bold personalities to keep the monotonous trek of the regular season lively.
This year the guys looked bored, and even though winning is always the end goal, having some fun at work always boosts performance. Lyon is the guy for that. Plus, his stellar performance in the playoffs for the Sabres so far, holding a 2.18 GAA and .921 Sv%, are the kinds of stats that the Edmonton Oilers have dreamed of the entire McDavid era.
He would be much more than just another personality hire.
There’s also the unfortunate chance the Oilers will run back Jarry and Ingram next season, if Bowman isn’t ready to admit that the trade that sent away Skinner, Brett Kulak and a second round pick for Jarry and Samuel Poulin was as bad as it was.
Ideally, Bowman and the Oilers will opt for a real solution to the goaltending issue that has been suppressing the McDavid Era.

PRESENTED BY LeaseBusters

LeaseBusters is Canada’s premier lease takeover marketplace, helping drivers get out of their current vehicle leases without costly penalties or negative equity. Instead of paying thousands to break a lease, sellers connect with qualified buyers ready to take it over—saving money and avoiding financial stress. Buyers benefit from shorter-term commitments and often better monthly payments, while dealerships retain a replacement customer and leasing companies keep contracts active. It’s a smarter, more efficient solution for everyone involved. Four parties, four wins—only with LeaseBusters. For more information, check out www.LeaseBusters.com.
Uncategorized
MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News