While the Edmonton Oilers avoided catastrophe just before the start of the regular season by re-signing superstar Connor McDavid on a short-term contract, there's still a massive flaw in the team's design.
Thus far, the Oilers are 10-9-5 with 25 points, good enough for sixth place in the Pacific Division. One of the main reasons for the Oilers' struggles this early in the season is their goaltending, something that has prevented them from winning it all the last two seasons.
Even with the lack of consistency, the Oilers continued to stick with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Yes, there weren't many feasible options for the Oilers to turn to, but the decision to keep their goalie tandem intact has backfired thus far.
It certainly hurts when realizing who they could have had in net, had it not been for a trade during the 2021 NHL Draft. Edmonton traded the 20th overall pick in the draft to the Minnesota Wild for the 22nd and 90th overall picks.
Minnesota used that pick on goalie Jesper Wallstedt, who currently looks elite so far in his rookie season while the Oilers look foolish for giving him up.
While the Oilers are still looking to find a permanent solution in net, the Wild traded up to the Oilers pick in 2021 and drafted Jesper Wallstedt… 👀
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) November 24, 2025
So far, so good for the returns to the Wild on that trade 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vmyPoytSSw
Big yikes.
Oilers dealing with what could have been as Jesper Wallstedt thrives with Wild
In hindsight, one has to imagine how things could have turned out had the Oilers never made that trade all the way back in 2021. Granted, Stan Bowman never made that trade, as he wasn't the general manager at the time. That was Ken Holland. But it's hard not to look at the early returns of Wallstedt and think "the Oilers would be better off if they had him."
Wallstedt is part of a 1A-1B tandem alongside Filip Gustavsson. while the veteran goaltender has put up solid numbers this season, Wallstedt is playing at entirely higher level. In the month of November alone, Wallstedt recorded a .970 save percentage, a 0.99 goals allowed average, a 5-0-0 record, 163 saves, and three shutouts in five games. That is an incredible feat for a young goaltender who struggled last season in the AHL.
Sure, there will be questions whether he can keep it up for the rest of the season, but the early returns have been incredible. As for the Oilers, their goaltending is sinking them.
Skinner has an 8-6-3 record, which isn't too bad. But it's his 3.00 goals allowed average and .885 save percentage that are really concerning, particularly the latter statistic. The Oilers can't expect to win games with their goaltender stopping less than 90 percent of shots faced.
Pickard hasn't been any better. Through eight games, Pickard has a 2-3-2 record, a 3.87 goals allowed average, and an .851 save percentage.
The Oilers' goaltending situation isn't helping them so far this season. If things don't improve, they will have to try and find an external option to save them. But these struggles will only fans thinking about the team giving up on the chance to draft Wallstedt in 2021.