Edmonton Oilers Eye Bold Goaltending Upgrade Following Stanley Cup Loss as Offseason Decisions Loom Large for Contending Team
The Edmonton Oilers find themselves at a crucial crossroads following a gut-wrenching defeat in the Stanley Cup Final. Falling just short of hockey’s ultimate prize, the franchise is now forced to reckon with the flaws that cost them a chance to hoist the Cup. At the heart of their postseason woes lies a glaring issue that has plagued the team throughout the season—goaltending. While the Oilers possess an elite offensive core led by superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, their netminding situation has been inconsistent at best and a liability at worst. With the offseason now underway, there is strong speculation that Edmonton’s front office is poised to make a bold move in the crease.
The Oilers’ goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, while admirable at moments, ultimately didn’t deliver the level of reliability expected during the most critical juncture of the season. Skinner, once thought to be the goaltender of the future, struggled with consistency and was even benched at times during the playoffs. Pickard, a veteran backup, played admirably when called upon but isn’t seen as a long-term solution. After another year of disappointment, general manager Ken Holland—or whoever replaces him if management decides on a shake-up—will need to prioritize finding a netminder who can backstop this high-powered team to the finish line.
Reports emerging from around the league suggest that Edmonton has already begun making inquiries into potential goalie acquisitions. The Oilers have reportedly reached out to multiple teams to gauge the availability and asking prices of several high-profile goaltenders. Among the names circulating are Boston’s Jeremy Swayman, Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom, and even a potential free agency run at someone like Laurent Brossoit, who has prior experience with the Oilers and recently re-established himself as a capable starter.
Swayman, in particular, stands out as a tantalizing target. The 25-year-old American netminder has quietly become one of the most efficient and reliable goaltenders in the league, sharing duties with Linus Ullmark in Boston’s crease. However, with cap constraints and long-term planning on the Bruins’ mind, there’s a belief that Boston could consider moving one of their two goalies, and Swayman’s name has surfaced in trade discussions. Acquiring Swayman would require a significant return, possibly including a top prospect, a first-round draft pick, or a key roster player, but the upside is considerable.
For the Oilers, parting with a valuable asset to shore up the most important position on the ice could be a necessary risk. Edmonton has watched teams with hot goaltending—like Sergei Bobrovsky’s Panthers or Adin Hill’s Golden Knights—ride a netminder’s momentum to the Stanley Cup. With a core that includes generational talents in McDavid and Draisaitl still in their prime, the pressure to maximize the current window of opportunity is immense. Another early playoff exit or missed opportunity might not only frustrate fans but also force tough questions about the long-term futures of key players.
Leon Draisaitl’s contract situation adds further urgency to the equation. Entering the final year of his deal, the German center is expected to command a massive extension—or he could walk as an unrestricted free agent. If Edmonton wants to show commitment to building a championship-caliber roster around him and McDavid, addressing goaltending isn’t optional—it’s imperative.
Beyond Swayman, other goaltending options on the trade market could include Nashville’s Juuse Saros, Anaheim’s John Gibson, and even New Jersey’s Vitek Vanecek. Each of these goalies comes with their own unique profile and price tag, and not all may be available depending on how negotiations unfold. Saros, for instance, has been the backbone of the Predators’ defense-first system for years and would likely require a king’s ransom. But for a team like Edmonton, which has struggled to find consistency in goal since the days of Dwayne Roloson, any opportunity to acquire a proven netminder deserves serious consideration.
Then there’s the free agent market, which is notably thin but not without intrigue. Veterans like Brossoit, Anthony Stolarz, and Antti Raanta could be signed at reasonable cap hits to provide a strong tandem presence or push Skinner for starts. However, none of these names would fundamentally alter the Oilers’ ceiling the way a trade for a top-tier goalie would.
Beyond personnel, Edmonton’s coaching staff must also take some accountability for the defensive structure that exposed their goaltenders. While Kris Knoblauch helped steady the team after taking over midseason, the Oilers still allowed high-danger scoring chances at a concerning rate during the playoffs. Any goaltender, no matter how talented, needs defensive support. Upgrading the blue line and improving team-wide commitment to defensive details should go hand-in-hand with any goaltending overhaul.
There’s also the question of whether Skinner can still be the guy. At just 25 years old, he has shown flashes of brilliance and earned the team’s trust during large stretches of the regular season. But in the playoffs, under the bright lights, his save percentage dipped and his confidence appeared shaken. If Edmonton does bring in a high-end goalie via trade or free agency, Skinner may benefit from a reduced workload and less pressure. In that sense, a 1A/1B system, similar to what Boston or Carolina employs, could be a healthy compromise.
Of course, all of this hinges on cap management. Edmonton is not flush with space under the salary cap and may need to move out contracts to make room for any big addition in goal. Names like Cody Ceci or Brett Kulak could be potential trade candidates, and even more dramatic moves—like a possible trade involving Ryan Nugent-Hopkins—can’t be ruled out if the front office becomes aggressive in their pursuit of a Cup.
Ultimately, the Oilers are at a defining moment. They have the league’s most electrifying player in Connor McDavid, who continues to break records and carry the team through sheer force of will. But even he cannot overcome the limitations of subpar goaltending. With the rest of the roster filled with capable scorers, gritty playoff performers, and a respectable if inconsistent blue line, goaltending remains the missing piece to completing the puzzle.
Fans in Edmonton have seen too many promising seasons end in heartbreak. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final was just the latest chapter in a long story of frustration. But it can also be a turning point. If the front office moves decisively this offseason and brings in the right goalie, this team could finally deliver on the immense promise it has shown over the past several years.
As July 1 free agency approaches and trade talks intensify across the NHL, all eyes will be on Edmonton’s next move. Will they swing for the fences and bring in an elite netminder to support their core? Or will they gamble again on internal options and minor tweaks? The choice they make will reverberate not just through the 2025-26 season, but possibly for the next decade of Oilers hockey. The pressure is on, and the clock is ticking.
