The Edmonton Oilers finally made a move that has been long-rumored to be in the works. The Oilers acquired another goaltender, this time, former Utah Mammoth netminder Connor Ingram.
Edmonton landed the 28-year-old in a trade for future considerations. That’s hockey-speak for “free.” The Mammoth even did the Oilers a solid by picking up $800,000 (40 percent) of Ingram’s salary this season.
The deal, as the Mammoth had noted, was about giving Ingram a fresh start elsewhere. It speaks volumes of the organization, particularly, the Mammoth stick by their players even on the way out.
That being said, Ingram wasn’t exactly the goalie Oilers fans were hoping for. While fans would have wanted Connor Hellebuyck or Igor Shesterkin, the fact is that Ingram is an “insurance policy,” as Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch noted.
The Hockey News quoted Knoblauch, stating: “It's an insurance policy in case of injuries or whatever happens.”
Indeed, the Oilers need a third-stringer with some NHL experience. As it stands, the Oilers don’t have that. They don’t have another goalie in the system who can take on any number of starts. The club signed free agent Matt Tomkins over the summer. Yes, the Tomkins with all of six NHL appearances.
That being said, the Oilers made a savvy move. Assuming Ingram has overcome the troubles that landed him on the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Ingram could be a huge piece moving forward.
The Oilers need depth. If one of Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard goes down, it could be no bueno for the club. Of course, Ingram won’t unseat anybody, as both Knoblauch and GM Stan Bowman noted, but he’s the sort of guy the club needs in the system moving forward.
Ingram to start in Bakersfield before joining Oilers
Bowman also stated that Ingram will be heading to the Bakersfield Condors before potentially making it back to the NHL with the Oilers. Bowman stated:
“We need to get him going and up to speed.”
That means he’ll get the lion’s share of starts in Bakersfield as the AHL season gets underway. Having Ingram ready to roll will be crucial, especially as the season wears on. The Oilers will have an especially tough schedule this season. Between frequent back-to-back sets and grueling travel, the Oilers could bring Ingram back into the fold sooner than expected.
Thinking several moves ahead, Ingram could be part of the Oilers’ goalie mix moving forward. Neither Skinner nor Pickard is signed beyond this season. While Ingram will also be a UFA next summer, the Oilers will need to have many healthy bodies poised to soak up minutes in the crease.
Ingram provides that depth, while alleviating the pressure off Skinner and Pickard. The optics of this deal were not impressive for Oilers fans. But, at the very least, Bowman did something fans have been clamoring for.