Oilers GM Stan Bowman directly confirms plan for goalie weakness next year
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie - Imagn Images
The Edmonton Oilers clear biggest roster need this offseason is a goaltending upgrade, but GM Stan Bowman believes in their current tandem for another year.
Reports had surfaced earlier this offseason that the Oilers may look to claim a goalie off waivers in training camp - with Michael DiPietro and Nico Daws as targets. Now, Bowman is pouring cold water on another move.
Oilers GM Stan Bowman confirm Skinner and Pickard will both return as tandem for next season
In a new interview on the 100% Hockey Podcast with John Shannon, Bowman was asked bluntly if Skinner and Pickard will be the tandem next year, and the Oilers GM confirmed it.
Not only that, Bowman doubled down that there was no available upgrades on their current tandem this offseason.
That's the way it looks right now. Never say never, we looked at a lot of different options, and I think there were a lot of good things we did last year.
To change something just to change it, I don't know that I've ever been a big fan of that. You have to be confident that the change you're making is an improvement. When we looked around at the options, there was nothing that made sense.
- Stan Bowman
To change something just to change it, I don't know that I've ever been a big fan of that. You have to be confident that the change you're making is an improvement. When we looked around at the options, there was nothing that made sense.
- Stan Bowman
With the immense fan pressure in Edmonton to solve the team's weakest position, it's a risky sell from Bowman to run back the same goalie tandem. Replacing Dustin Schwartz with a new goalie coach may potentially help, but the new coach now has the difficult task of turning one of the current goalies into a consistent starter.
It's also fair to say the field of available goalies this offseason has been weak, but that's shouldn't excuse the Oilers from getting creative to solve the problem - and to say there are no upgrades on 33 year old Calvin Pickard is fairly ridiculous, even given his playoff success last year.
Perhaps something still changes before the season or by the trade deadline, but it looks like the Oilers are running back Skinner and Pickard again.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 22 | 531 ANSWERS Oilers GM Stan Bowman directly confirms plan for goalie weakness next year Do you think the Oilers need a goaltending upgrade next season? | ||
| Yes | 471 | 88.7 % |
| No | 60 | 11.3 % |
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