Oilers have settled on disappointing goalie decision for next season per insider
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The Edmonton Oilers have a glaring roster weakness with their goaltending, but new insider reports suggest the team will be bringing back both Skinner and Pickard next season.
Last week, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers will be looking to replace goalie coach Dustin Schwartz, and backup Calvin Pickard with a tandem goalie. Now, the thin goalie market has changed their plans.
Edmonton Oilers expected to retain both Skinner and Pickard for next season
On today's edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman suggested Edmonton may have determined that Pickard is better than any other tandem goalie they could acquire.
I think they tried a few things out there on the open market, but they were a bit limited in what they could do. They are going to get a new goalie coach. I'd said in a previous pod about maybe do they try and get a new backup for Skinner.
If you're going to try a new approach and goal, I don't know if you should. Like they did sign Matt Tompkins, but Calvin Pickard's been very good for them.
So I'm not as certain that Edmonton should do that. Maybe what you just do is you try the new approach and see if that helps you.
- Elliotte Friedman
If you're going to try a new approach and goal, I don't know if you should. Like they did sign Matt Tompkins, but Calvin Pickard's been very good for them.
So I'm not as certain that Edmonton should do that. Maybe what you just do is you try the new approach and see if that helps you.
- Elliotte Friedman
It seems that the Oilers struck out in the free agent market due to their heavy cap constraints this season, and don't like any of the options and price on the trade market.
Instead, Friedman seems to be suggesting the Oilers could try Pickard in more of a tandem role next year.
At least there'd be change at the goalie coach position, but this would be extremely underwhelming for the Oilers to make no goalie upgrades. For a team that turned to a career AHL journeyman in the Cup Final, it's quite literally the easiest position to upgrade.
There are still a number of teams who have more than 2 starting calibre goaltenders, so it's possible a trade is forced by a player looking for more opportunity closer to the season. For now though, it appears the Oilers will once again stand pat in net.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 6 | 848 ANSWERS Oilers have settled on disappointing goalie decision for next season per insider Do you think the Oilers should stand pat with their goaltending? | ||
| Yes | 182 | 21.5 % |
| No | 666 | 78.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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