Analyst claims new Oilers' hometown goalie will be added to the NHL roster

As there are only 23 roster spots, some that don't make the cut will be ticketed for the AHL, to start the 2025-26 season with the Bakersfield Condors. Yet, there are some players that, though they may start with the AHL affiliate team, could find their way to the Edmonton Oilers.

The most notable name from the list, because of the Oilers' need at his position, is goaltender Matt Tomkins, a former Tampa Bay Lightening goalie that was acquired by Edmonton July 1st, 2025.

The 31-year old netminder spent the last two seasons in the AHL with the Syracuse Crunch, where he posted decent numbers. In 26 games played in 2024-25, he posted a record of 12-10-3, with a 2.55 GAA and a .907 SV%. He had similar numbers the year prior.

Yet, Matt Tomkins does have 6 games of NHL experience (3-2-1), where he recorded a 3.33 GAA and a .892 SV%.

What is apparent from this signing, however, is that Tomkins will be utilized as the Oilers' 3rd-string goaltender, an insurance policy in the event that one, or both of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard can't go.

As the game becomes faster and players bigger and stronger, injuries to goaltenders occur more frequently, with injuries that keep then out of the lineup for longer periods of time. Almost every team experiences as injury to their goalie every year; having a backup with professional experience is critical in today's NHL.

Stan Bowman signed Matt to a 2-year contract at an AAV of $775K, and will be with Edmonton long enough to determine what the team has in him. We may learn as early as September whether Matt Tomkins can fill-in admirably at the NHL level, or if he's a career AHL goaltender.