Time and time again, the phrase “goaltending is voodoo” gets uttered, and then gets proven correct. And as the NHL sees more skilled players enter its ranks, save percentages across the league suffer further. No team is more familiar with save percentages starting with an “.8” than the Edmonton Oilers, much to this fanbase’s chagrin.
Now, to preface this conversation, there’s plenty of blame to go around for the 2025-26 season’s result. As far as that first-round exit is concerned, coaching and defence were equally as abysmal; it would be nearsighted to think otherwise. But for now, let’s discuss the goalie situation in Edmonton, and see how the Oilers should fix it.
The “incumbent” goalie tandem, plus the (departing) third goalie
After starting a second consecutive season with a tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, the Oilers finished it with Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry as their NHL duo. Ingram came in to replace Pickard, who got bumped down to AHL Bakersfield until the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jarry and Skinner were the cornerstones of a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in December.
Ingram actually acquitted himself very well, seizing the starting job and posting a save percentage of .899 on the year—higher than the league average of .897. Jarry’s season was far more volatile, by contrast. He had a good first few games as an Oiler, then faltered the rest of the way. Yet, in his lone playoff start, Jarry was solid… until overtime, anyway.
More than likely, one of these two goalies is getting replaced for next season. Which one remains to be seen. Worth noting, Ingram basically gave the Oilers the .900 goaltending that fans have long beckoned for. How to upgrade is obviously the bigger question, because there’s several options.
Go for an all-Connor tandem, and call up Ungar for 2026-27
The goalie in the Oilers organization whose stock is undoubtedly highest currently is Connor Ungar. After a rather middling first year in the ECHL in 2024-25, Ungar this season decided to be a brick wall. And he did so at more than one level of hockey.
Not only did he put up a 2.33 goals-against average and .920 save percentage for three total ECHL teams. But in 13 AHL games, he posted a 2.51 GAA and a .923 to go with it. Across his 38 cumulative appearances, Ungar earned shutouts in five of them.
As an RFA, Ungar is a near-certainty to be re-signed, especially with Pickard recently confirming his departure. At minimum, Ungar is done with the ECHL. But if he went to the AHL and already dominated there, why not just bring him up to the NHL?
Ungar turned 24 this season, so anointing him the new starter wouldn’t be wise. But if he can learn from either Jarry or Ingram, or possibly even both if one is injured, it would be massive for his development. Start him off as the backup, and let him find his big-league game against weaker NHL opponents. The rest will follow, and the Oilers would be set in net for a long time to come.
Trade for another goalie, and maybe in a way, right a past wrong
Trading for a goalie was never a bad idea, by itself. However, GM Stan Bowman traded for the wrong goalie, and bought high on Jarry. The price was steep, Jarry regressed to the mean, and the trade became a disaster. Not only that, but Jarry has two years remaining still on his contract. Yikes.
Better goalies are to be had, though, if Bowman can do his homework better. This section won’t get into every trade-target netminder, since that could be its own separate article. Rather, the focus will be on a team still playing playoff games at the present moment.
The Edmonton Oilers, five years ago, punted on their first-round draft pick, sending it to Minnesota in a trade-down. The Wild selected Jesper Wallstedt with that pick, and he is now their playoff starter. It’s a bitter pill to swallow; however, the potential salvation comes in the form of the other Wild goalie, Filip Gustavsson.
Per other pundits, Gustavsson doesn’t seem happy being demoted to backup for the playoffs. Should he request a trade, Bowman should do everything possible to try and acquire him. Gustavsson’s stats are still quite solid, as this season he registered a 2.67 GAA and a .911 save percentage.
Give Jarry to the Wild as a new Wallstedt backup, and ride with Ingram-Gustavsson. Or Ungar-Gustavsson. Either way, make that trade happen, Mr. Bowman.
Put the Stu back on the menu
From this observer’s vantage point, this season was proof that Edmonton’s issues run far deeper than goaltending. A .900 goalie, supposedly all the Oilers needed, still didn’t bring home the Cup. The larger indictment against management is that the goalie they traded their prior starter for, played all of one playoff game. Pray tell, then, what the Skinner-Jarry trade was for?
There’s a legitimate case to be made that Skinner played his best when challenged by his goaltending partner. Nowhere else was it clearer than the 2025 playoffs. After six passable performances by Pickard, Skinner then came in and, after a Game 3 hiccup, proceeded to brick-wall the Vegas Golden Knights and (again) Dallas Stars.
It doesn’t appear that Skinner will be re-signed by the Penguins, who already have Artūrs Šilovs and Sergei Murashov. So why not bring him back via free-agency, and play him alongside Ingram? If Skinner plays his best when having a competitive partner, a Skinner-Ingram tandem may legitimately be the answer.
A better backup might have been the solution all along. The only way to find out is to bring the local boy back home. Skinner and Ingram, to take the Oilers to the promised land.
Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire
