If the Edmonton Oilers goaltenders continue to struggle for much longer, management may have no case but to make a move.
Stuart Skinner is coming off of yet another rough outing last night in which he allowed five goals on 26 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The loss wasn’t entirely on him, but his now 3.33 goals against average (GAA) along with a .876 save percentage (SV%) in 14 appearances shows just how poorly he’s been playing.
Backup Calvin Pickard has been the better of the two early this season, though far from excellent. He has just a .893 SV% through seven starts.
The issue when it comes to fixing those problems is that it hasn’t seemed as though many goaltenders are available for trade, particularly any who would serve as a legitimate upgrade. However, based on a new report from Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, that may have changed.
“[John] Gibson has a modified no-trade clause, but my understanding is he would consider the Oilers, who came one win short of the Cup last season,” LeBrun wrote.
Gibson’s struggles in recent seasons have been well documented. Once viewed as one of the game’s best starters, he’s had an SV% of .904 or lower from the 2019-20 season on. That said, playing behind a struggling Anaheim Ducks roster has played a major factor in those numbers.
Should Gibson be afforded the opportunity of playing behind a better team such as the Oilers, there is reason to believe he could find his old form.
While some Oilers fans would certainly be willing to role the dice, such a move may never wind up coming to fruition. LeBrun was quick to mention that he senses the Oilers aren’t focused on their goaltending at this time, in large part because of their minimal cap space.
Gibson is currently on a deal that pays him $6.4 million through the 2026-27 season. That is a deal the Oilers, and likely no other NHL team, would be willing to take on. However, as per Puckpedia, the Ducks have over $25 million in cap space.
If the Ducks were willing to retain some of Gibson’s cap hit, Oilers management may soon have to consider pulling the trigger if their current duo’s struggles last for much longer.
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