Oilers Should Take Flyer on Goalie Set to Hit Waivers

The endless chatter surrounding the Edmonton Oilers' goalie situation could take another interesting turn.

On Wednesday, Utah Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong announced that goalie Connor Ingram would not be attending training camp, as Cole Bagley of KSL Sports reported.

Moreover, the Mammoth will be looking to find a new home for Ingram. That search will begin by placing the beleaguered netminder on waivers.

If a team claims Ingram on waivers, well, the deal is done. For the Mammoth, it will be a case of no harm, no foul as they let Ingram push the reset button elsewhere.

That’s where the Oilers can come into the picture. The club doesn’t have an NHL-caliber goalie on the roster beyond this season. Furthermore, the Oilers don’t really have a third-string goalie.

As it stands, the only goalie who could potentially spell Stuart Skinner or Calvin Pickard is career AHLer Matt Tomkins.

So, the Oilers should take a flyer on Ingram. He comes with a $1.95 million cap hit. But considering the circumstances, it’s a gamble the club could make.

Oilers need goaltending depth across the board

So, even assuming that Skinner and Pickard are the go-to tandem, the Oilers still need organizational depth in the crease. Bringing Ingram in wouldn’t mean that he’d be competing for an NHL job right away.

Adding Ingram would likely mean sending him to Bakersfield while he finds his game. If injuries hit, Ingram could be the first man up. Of course, that’s an optimistic scenario. But what other choices do the Oilers have?

The trade market is beyond bone dry. The remaining free-agent goalies may not seem keen on becoming a third-string in Edmonton. For instance, veteran James Reimer and Ilya Samsonov may still have their sights set on at least a backup role.

That won’t happen in Edmonton. That’s why Connor Ingram makes a ton of sense for the Oilers.

Realistically, Oilers fans shouldn’t expect Ingram to come in and take over the crease. It’s highly implausible that the 28-year-old can channel Ken Dryden’s spirit and lead the Oilers to a Stanley Cup.

Sure, stranger things have happened in the NHL. But as far as where we stand, the reality is that Ingram is insurance. It’s also a move thinking beyond this season. The Oilers will need a backup goalie, and Ingram could be just the man.

At worst, the Oilers could just bury his cap hit in the AHL for the remainder of the season. The Condors could use an experienced starting goalie. So, there’s a sliver of hope for a goalie like Ingram moving forward in Edmonton.