Rumours about Edmonton Oilers targeting a goalie are nonsense
The Edmonton Oilers have been the subject of wild rumours suggesting the club may be in the market for a goaltender. But upon closer inspection, such rumours are the product of an overactive imagination.
Edmonton Oilers starting netminder Stuart Skinner has come under fire in the early going this season. His 3.28 Goals Against Average and .885 save percentage in nine games this season have been the subject of speculation regarding the Oilers’ need for a clear-cut number-one goaltender.
However, as The Athletic's Allan Mitchell discussed, the Oilers’ roster construction needs Skinner to be the number-one guy. Mitchell’s thesis is that the top-loaded Oilers roster, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s massive contracts, demand that the Oilers have an inexpensive goaltender.
Moreover, Darnell Nurse’s not-so-team-friendly deal and the coming extension for Evan Bouchard all place downward pressure on the Edmonton Oilers’ salary cap situation. Then, there’s the spectre of McDavid’s new extension in 2026.
As such, the Oilers need Skinner to be the guy. While the Oilers could target a top-of-the-line netminder like, say, Igor Shesterkin, the Oilers just don’t have the cap space. Targeting such a goalie would invariably mean giving up on someone like Bouchard, or perhaps dealing away a contract such as Nurse’s (more on that in a minute).
One idea that comes to mind is acquiring a solid backup for Skinner, someone who could help shoulder the load as Skinner continues to develop into a full-fledged number-one guy. But wait, the Oilers already have one.
The club has Calvin Pickard, who has been somewhat of a journeyman throughout his career. Nevertheless, he seems to have settled in nicely with the Oilers. Pickard’s recent performances have given the Oilers the assurance needed to go out and win hockey games.
Ultimately, the idea of the Oilers being in the market for a goalie is nonsense. Unless a once-in-a-lifetime deal comes along, there’s a fat chance the Oilers pull the trigger on a deal involving a goalie.
The Oilers trading Darnell Nurse is also nonsense
For better or worse, the Oilers are stuck with Nurse. Even if the Oilers were compelled to dump his contract on someone like the San Jose Sharks or Anaheim Ducks (Chicago Blackhawks maybe?), the fact is that Nurse isn’t going anywhere.
Sure, he might be overpaid for what he brings to the table at this point in his career. Still, he’s a serviceable defenceman. Moreover, there’s a significant roadblock keeping him from leaving the Oilers: A full no-movement clause (NMC).
That’s the sticking point. There’s virtually zero chance Nurse waives his NMC to go elsewhere, unless he goes to a contender. But then again, what contending team has the cap space to afford Nurse’s cap hit?
For argument’s sake, let’s say the New York Rangers or Colorado Avalanche were interested in Nurse. These clubs simply can’t afford him. Even if the Oilers and an interested party worked cap voodoo to retain salary and so on, Nurse could easily veto a trade unless it were a team like Colorado, Dallas, or perhaps Boston.
Next. Oilers’ third-period collapse hands Golden Knights a 4-2 win. Oilers’ third-period collapse hands Golden Knights a 4-2 win. dark
At the end of the day, trading Nurse makes no sense. While I’m not saying it’s impossible, there’s not much chance of it happening.
Many of the wild rumours circling around the Oilers are the product of an overactive imagination.
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