With Goaltending Still an Issue, One Free Agent Jason Gregor Believes the Edmonton Oilers Should Seriously Pursue This Summer

When you build a Stanley Cup contender, there are only a few things more essential than an elite goaltender — and that’s exactly where the Edmonton Oilers find themselves yet again. After another deep playoff run that fell short of hockey’s holy grail, the Oilers know the clock is ticking on their championship window. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are in their primes, the defensive core is stabilizing, and the offense is lethal. But there remains one glaring question mark: goaltending.

Veteran NHL insider Jason Gregor recently dove into Edmonton’s offseason needs, and like many fans and analysts, he identified goaltending as the position of highest urgency. Gregor’s insights point to a handful of free-agent options, but one name continues to bubble to the surface as the right fit: Laurent Brossoit.

Yes, that Laurent Brossoit — the former Oilers draft pick who quietly rebuilt his career into one of the league’s most reliable backups and spot starters. Now 31, Brossoit is fresh off a highly effective stint with the Winnipeg Jets, where he posted a stellar .927 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average over 23 games. He wasn’t just good — he was one of the league’s best statistical goaltenders in limited action.

And that’s precisely why the Oilers should circle back.

Brossoit’s early years with Edmonton didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Drafted by Calgary and traded to the Oilers in 2013, he was a raw product with potential but lacked the polish needed to stick at the NHL level. His inconsistencies and Edmonton’s defensive struggles at the time created a rough learning curve. Eventually, Brossoit moved on, bouncing between the Jets and Vegas Golden Knights.

That detour proved essential. Brossoit refined his technical game, developed calm under pressure, and became a dependable presence behind more complete defensive systems. What Edmonton is seeing now in Brossoit isn’t the uncertain backup from a decade ago — it’s a matured goaltender with championship experience, a refined mental approach, and recent success on playoff-caliber teams.

Jason Gregor argues this evolution makes Brossoit an ideal target: someone who won’t break the bank, has the numbers to justify an increased role, and comes with the added motivation of returning to the franchise that gave him his first real shot.

The Oilers’ 2024-25 campaign will be defined by one thing: whether or not their goalie situation can hold up under the weight of Cup expectations. Stuart Skinner has been solid at times — especially during the regular season — but his playoff inconsistency remains a problem. Jack Campbell’s contract continues to be an anchor, and though there’s been improvement in the AHL, relying on him at the NHL level again would be a gamble bordering on desperation.

In that context, Gregor’s advocacy for a low-risk, high-upside free agent like Brossoit makes sense. Edmonton doesn’t need a Vezina-caliber goalie (though nobody would complain). What they need is someone who can split starts with Skinner, push him for the No. 1 job, and provide rock-solid play in the event Skinner struggles in the postseason. Brossoit checks all those boxes — and perhaps most importantly, he does so without commanding $5M+ annually.

Make no mistake: Edmonton is dealing with tight cap constraints. With Draisaitl extension talks looming and McDavid not far behind, Ken Holland — or his successor if changes happen — must manage every dollar wisely. This makes elite names like Juuse Saros, Jacob Markstrom, or Linus Ullmark hard to justify unless a major trade clears space.

Brossoit, on the other hand, fits the budget. After earning just $1.75 million last year, he likely won’t command much more than $2.5 million per year even with his strong season. That’s a far more digestible number for a team that still has to address depth scoring, re-signing defensemen, and future core contracts.

Gregor notes that for Edmonton, it’s not just about acquiring talent — it’s about building smartly within the window they have. The best rosters in the cap era often win not by spending the most, but by finding value. In Brossoit, the Oilers could land one of the best values on the market.

The 2024 goaltending free agent class isn’t overflowing with elite talent, but it does offer several intriguing names. Anthony Stolarz, Cam Talbot, Alex Nedeljkovic, and Kevin Lankinen will all generate interest. Yet each comes with question marks. Talbot is aging and struggled in high-leverage situations. Nedeljkovic has been up and down since his breakout rookie season. Lankinen hasn’t proven he can carry a heavy workload.

In contrast, Brossoit enters free agency with the best combination of recent success, age, affordability, and flexibility. He’s good enough to start but won’t bristle at a 1A/1B split. He’s motivated, familiar with the Canadian market, and capable of playoff-caliber goaltending — something Edmonton desperately needs.

There’s also the intangible benefit that comes with Brossoit’s return. For a player whose career began in Edmonton, a comeback could reignite a sense of purpose and redemption. Oilers fans — passionate and demanding — love a good comeback story. If Brossoit were to shine on the very ice where he once stumbled, the narrative writes itself: a player who left quietly and returned triumphantly to help lead the team that drafted him to glory.

Jason Gregor’s emphasis on goaltending isn’t reactionary. It’s reality. For all the offensive fireworks McDavid and Draisaitl provide, the Oilers can’t go all the way without reliable stops. The Vegas Golden Knights exposed that truth. So did the Colorado Avalanche.

Gregor’s recommendation to target Brossoit isn’t about fireworks. It’s about substance, stability, and seizing a chance to fix the one thing that keeps holding Edmonton back.

Sometimes, the best answers are the simplest. Edmonton doesn’t need to mortgage its future for a massive goaltending gamble. It just needs to get solid, consistent play at the position. Brossoit might not be the biggest name available, but he’s arguably the most practical fit for this Oilers team.

Jason Gregor’s insight highlights a truth Edmonton’s front office can’t afford to ignore: winning starts in net, and if the Oilers want to raise a Stanley Cup banner before their stars hit free agency, they need to make a bold but smart move this summer.

Laurent Brossoit may not be a blockbuster name, but he might be the missing piece. And if Edmonton brings him home, they just might find out that the answer to their goaltending puzzle was once one of their own.