Insider shares the monster trade that could finally shake up the Oilers

Insider Allan Mitchell of the Athletic recently took a hard look at what a real shake-up might require for the stumbling Edmonton Oilers, and his conclusion wasn’t subtle: if they want meaningful help in goal, it’ll cost them.

In Mitchell’s view, any serious offer starts with meaningful futures. Think Matthew Savoie, their 2027 first-rounder, or even a veteran like Adam Henrique or Brett Kulak. That’s the kind of package it could take to pry loose a goaltender who represents a legitimate upgrade over Stuart Skinner.

Mitchell even floated Nashville’s Juuse Saros as a theoretical target, though the scenario seems far fetched. The Predators would need to take on Henrique and Skinner, plus retain part of Saros’ $7.74-million AAV. Add in Saros’ full no-movement clause and Nashville’s clear intention not to rebuild, and the whole thing feels more like a thought exercise than a roadmap. For now, Saros is a daydream, not a deadline target.

A more grounded approach, Mitchell suggested, would be addressing the backup slot. Calvin Pickard’s struggles have magnified Skinner’s inconsistency, and a lower-cost move, perhaps chasing Detroit’s Sebastien Cossa, could stabilize the crease without detonating the asset pool.

Either way, the clock is ticking. The Oilers can no longer pretend Skinner holds the net uncontested. At 26, his inconsistency has become part of the pattern, not a streak to ride out. GM Stan Bowman knows an upgrade is needed, even if the path to one will be quite the challenge.

I mean, there simply isn’t a goalie market. Insiders and analysts alike have pointed out that Skinner’s numbers aren’t that catastrophic and that the supply of available goalies is thinner than late-season ice. That’s why Skinner hasn’t been replaced, and why Pickard remains in the picture. It’s not stubbornness from management, it’s scarcity.

So the Oilers sit in limbo, needing help in net, staring at a market that isn’t offering much, and running out of time to wait for answers from within. If Bowman wants to get this season back on track, he may need something close to a holiday miracle…