Sleeper goaltender could be the answer to Edmonton's goalie-controversy
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Earlier this month, in an article he wrote for The Athletic analyst and hockey writer Allan Mitchell reported that the Oilers should target goalie Michael DiPietro as the team's backup.
Value deals await at the deadline for a team that can identify inexpensive talent. The best inexpensive goaltender available is Michael DiPietro of the Boston Bruins
- Allan Mitchell
Edmonton Oilers' cap situation may prevent them from going after an established starting goaltender
Given that Edmonton has only $266K of cap space available for the 2025-26 campaign, cost would be a definite factor when deciding whom to target.
Edmonton has recently been linked to several potential goaltenders: Nico Daws,
Sebastian Cossa,
Trey Augustine, and of course, Boston's Michael DiPietro.
The 26-year DiPietro was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 64th overall in the 2017 draft, and is in year 1 of a 2 year deal with a cap hit of $812,500, a number the Oilers can certainly make work with little effort.
Granted, though Michael's NHL experience has been limited to only 3 games, his pro-experience with the AHL's Providence Bruins shows he is very capable of putting-up big numbers.
In 40 games played with Providence last year, DiPietro posted a 26-8-4 record, including 4 shutouts, and a spectacular 2.05 GAA and .927 SV%.
To show it wasn't a one-off, Michael, in 30 games played in the 2023-24 season, again with the Providence Bruins, posted a record of 18-8-2, again with 4 shutouts, and a 2.51 GAA and .918 SV%.
At a bargain cap hit, if these numbers were to translate at the NHL level, Michael DiPietro would be a cost-effective alternative for the team's starting goalie position, perhaps not this season, but certainly the next, when both Skinner and Pickard become unrestricted free agents.
Previously on Oilers Daily
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AOUT 25 | 154 ANSWERS Sleeper goaltender could be the answer to Edmonton's goalie-controversy Should the Oilers make an attempt to acquire goalie Michael DiPietro from the Boston Bruins? |
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