Tons of ink has been spilled heading into the 2026-27 hockey season about the logjam that is forming down the goaltending pipeline for the Edmonton Oilers at all three levels.
The Oilers themselves are set to enter the NHL season with three goalies occupying their net, something that is bound to cause plenty of debates amongst fans and headaches for the coaching staff.
Further down the organizational depth chart, the team has four under NHL contract and with the recent signing of top goalie prospect, Eemil Vinni to a minor league deal, they have five. They are all expected to split time between the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors and their ECHL affiliate, the Fort Wayne Komets.
This will inevitably leave a game of musical chairs to take place as multiple prospects battle for playing time in a crowded crease. However, one prospect's decision may end up providing a solution for the organization and his teammates.
According to recent reports from Bruce Curlock on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer, top goalie prospect Samuel Jonsson is expected to return home to Sweden next year to play in the SHL. He said "It appears that [Samuel] Jonsson has decided to return to the SHL for this coming season."
Samuel Jonsson to return home to Swedish League
Originally drafted by the Oilers in the fifth round at the 2022 NHL Draft, Jonsson spent the last few seasons in the J20 Nationell, HockeyEttan, and HockeyAllsvenskan. This was before he signed his entry-level contract in 2025 and came to North America for last season.
He spent the entire year, his first in North America, in the ECHL with the Komets, playing 33 games with a 21-8-2 record and a 2.38 goals against average and .910 save percentage in the regular season. Adding another 10 games with a 6-3-1 record and a 2.31 GAA and .925 save percentage.
After his impressive rookie season, it seemed likely that the 22 year old would move up to fight for a spot in the AHL with the Condors. Now if he returns to Sweden, it both simplifies the goaltending situation in the short term but creates a lot more questions and concerns for the future. Namely, what does this mean for Jonsson's future with the Oilers?
As Curlock puts it is that there are some concerns with this move. "I think the concern I have is: What does the player think of the organization and what does the organization think of the player for doing this? Hopefully this was a mutually agreed decision."
The Oilers have had some issues with retaining prospects in recent times, something that is not unique to them but provides cause for concern. Between Maxim Beryozkin and Shane LaChance, the club would prefer to keep a player that is arguably their top goaltending prospect. On the other hand, from Jonsson's perspective, he is one of many players fighting for the same roles within the Oilers organization.
Nothing is official as of writing this but if the reports are true, it could be a positive for the time being, as long as it does not become a long term move for the goalie.
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