It seems like the Edmonton Oilers need a little bit of something at each position this season.
A second-pair defenceman appears to be at the top of the team’s wishlist with reports connecting them to Pittsburgh Penguins defender Marcus Pettersson and Columbus Blue Jackets youngster David Jiricek. They could also use some more speed and scoring in their top-nine forward group, with former Oilers superstar Taylor Hall maybe being a possibility through trade.
Edmonton could also use some help between the pipes, as both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have been less-than-stellar to start the season. The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun recently said that the Oilers seem content to “sink-or-swim” with Skinner as their primary starter, so if Edmonton GM Stan Bowman does pursue a goalie, it’s most likely to replace Pickard in the backup position.
The goalie trade market is looking pretty thin this season, but there are seven potential targets the Oilers could set their aim on.
1. Mackenzie Blackwood, San Jose Sharks
Age: 27
Current contract: $2.35 million (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: 4-8-3, .902 sv%
Mackenzie Blackwood is by far the best goalie that may be on the trade block this season. He has shown well on a terrible San Jose Sharks team, and he has a very manageable cap hit that is under $2.5 million.
With Yaroslav Askarov waiting in the wings, he’s a good candidate to be moved.
2. John Gibson, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 31
Current contract: $6.4 million (2027-UFA)
2024-25 stats: 4-0-1, .925 sv%
Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson is reportedly open to being traded to the Oilers, and he’s doing a lot to win over fans. Despite a few down seasons and injury woes, Gibson’s stats are sparkling through his first five games of the season, even while on a bad Ducks team.
He is by far the most expensive option and still has a term left on his deal. Any trade with the Oilers would require salary retention.
3. Dan Vladar, Calgary Flames
Age: 27
Current contract: $2.2 million (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: 4-4-3, .905 sv%
Calgary Flames GM Craig Conroy has reportedly had a hostile relationship with the Oilers when it comes to trade discussions, but could he sell off Dan Vladar his provincial rival?
Vladar has had a middling start to the season as he shares the net with rookie Dustin Wolf. Still, his underlying stats are better than both of Edmonton’s current goalies and he has some experience sharing the net in a 1A/1B situation that the Oilers may have.
Not the sexiest option, but one that could be explored.
4. Vitek Vanecek, San Jose Sharks
Age: 28
Current contract: $3.4 million (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: 2-5-1, .899 sv%
If the Sharks want to keep Blackwood to platoon with Askarov, they will need to find a new home for Vitek Vanecek.
The Czech-born goalie had a great start to his NHL career with the Washington Capitals, but things have trailed off after he was traded to the New Jersey Devils and now the Sharks. He is still posting halfway decent numbers, despite a losing record, and could probably be had for cheap.
5. Alex Lyon. Detroit Red Wings
Age: 31
Current contract: $900,000 (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: 4-4-1, .911 sv%
Alex Lyon has garnered a reputation as a season-saving goaltender over recent years. Could he do it again in Edmonton?
He helped right the path for the Florida Panthers back in 2022-23 and has done a great job with the Detroit Red Wings this season. If the Red Wings are not able to make that push for the playoffs, he could wind up shaking loose.
Detroit already has Cam Talbot taking up most of the starts and could probably fetch a decent return on Lyon if they opted to move him.
6. Kaapo Kahkonen, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 28
Current contract: $1 million (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: (AHL) 2-3-0, .902 sv%
Kaapo Kahkonen was involved in a waiver war between the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets earlier this season, which shows that the market could be hot for him.
He has played just one NHL game with the Avalanche before returning to the Jets through the waiver wire. The Finn has had an up-and-down NHL career but has never been able to stick in one place for too long.
He could be moved, as Eric Comrie and Conor Hellebuyck form one of the best tandems in the league.
7. Chris Driedger, Florida Panthers
Age: 30
Current contract: $795,000 (2025-UFA)
2024-25 stats: (AHL) 4-2-1, .884 sv%
Similar to Lyon, Driedger has been able to do a lot of good things in his limited time in the NHL.
Before the 2021-22 season, the Winnipeg native had a save percentage of .932 over two seasons and 35 games with the Florida Panthers. However, when he was traded to Seattle, things fell back down to earth, as he posted an .899 save percentage.
Since then, he’s rarely gotten another shot at the NHL. He’s also had a mediocre start to the season in the AHL and has already passed through waivers once.