Oilers land in difficult spot amid goalie trade speculation

Reality hit the Edmonton Oilers in their long playoff run and it is now no secret that the team must address its goalie situation ahead of the 2024-25. However, David Staples of the Edmonton Journal has recently cited ESPN’s Ray Ferraro pointing out that the Oilers are in a difficult spot in their efforts this summer to find a goaltender.

It’s been pointed out how both Jake Allen of the New Jersey Devils could be willing to come to Edmonton by signing as a free agent this summer, while John Gibson of the Anaheim Ducks might accept a trade to the Oilers.

But are these two the best options?

“He’s a free agent,” Ferraro said of Allen. “How much money can you put into your (goalie) position? Because you need it so definitively in other places (on the Oilers roster). They’re in a tough spot.”

“Anaheim’s John Gibson is another name out there, Ferraro said, but will Anaheim be willing to retain cap space? “That’s an expensive trade both, I would think, in assets and in dollars. Like, they’re in a tough spot there. But I think might even be in the place of change for change, is part of what they need to do. I don’t think you can go back with the same goaltending… There would be an undercurrent all year with the same goaltending. And that’s unfortunately, I mean, that’s the nature of that bloody position, right?”

The plan seems uncertain and quite frankly not what Oilers’ fans want to hear going into the offseason. After all, they all witness how the Florida Panthers’ best player was goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who earns $10-million-per-year on his contract.

But Staples maintains he does not want to see the Oilers trade away Skinner, though he acknowledges his inconsistency and declining stats. However, there are very little goalies available out there this summer, and with limited cap space, what can Edmonton really do about their goalie situation?

“ I fear things could get ugly if the Oilers stick with Skinner and Pickard, and the teams continue to get inconsistent goaltending. Why not mix it up? Pickard could be kept on as a goalie in Bakersfield in case of injury, or in case either of the other goalies flops,” Staples concludes.