The Edmonton Oilers could find a solid goaltending option in Boston, and it’s not Jeremy Swayman or Joonas Korpisalo. Insider Jeff Marek floated the idea that Edmonton could target up-and-coming netminder Michael DiPietro.
During the July 16 edition of Marek’s show, The Sheet, Marek discussed the Oilers’ offseason with team insider Jason Gregor. The most pressing concern on the radar for Edmonton is the situation in the crease.
While Gregor argued that Stuart Skinner hasn’t played as badly as most believe, Marek countered by stating that the Oilers could look into the goalie situation in Boston. Marek pointed out that Michael DiPietro has had two solid seasons in the AHL. But the Bruins find themselves with no place for him.
So, trading him could be an option for Boston, and the Oilers could take advantage of that situation. Marek prefaced his thoughts by saying:
“If you’re going to make a move for a goaltender, don’t wait till the trade deadline to make that move.”
Marek drilled down on the point, stating that everyone expects Oilers GM Stan Bowman to make a move by the end of the summer. As such, Marek cautioned that “there’s another Arturs Silovs situation playing out in Boston.” That possibility prompted Marek to declare:
“Michael DiPietro has turned in a couple of outstanding seasons back-to-back to the Providence Bruins and seems to be ready once again for prime time.”
While Marek warned that no goalie will ever be “perfect,” the Oilers will be hard-pressed to bring in another goaltender to quell the calls from fans for a solution to the team’s apparent needs in the crease.
Check out Marek’s comments from the 14-minute mark onwards:
Oilers Wouldn’t Have to Pay a High Price for DiPietro
Marek’s comparison of the Michael DiPietro situation in Boston to Silovs in Vancouver raises questions about what it would take for the Oilers to bring in the 26-year-old netminder from the Bruins.
If the Silovs trade is any indication, the deal might not be as expensive for the Oilers as one might think. Silovs cost the Penguins a depth player and a mid-round pick. That’s something the Oilers can certainly muster for DiPietro.
Considering the Bruins could risk losing DiPietro on waivers if they brought him up to the main team, the club might consider moving him now and get something for him.
At the moment, there’s no indication the Bruins are looking to move DiPietro. But if they got an enticing offer from the Oilers, the move could happen.
DiPietro Would Not Be Immediate Solution for Edmonton
Adding Michael DiPietro, who was a former draft pick of the Vancouver Canucks, would not be an immediate solution for the Oilers. His addition would be more of a work in progress. He would come into training camp, likely competing with Calvin Pickard for the backup role to Stuart Skinner.
Unless DiPietro somehow won the starting job in camp, he would be the backup heading into the season.
At some point, the Oilers may give DiPietro significant playing time. The move would hopefully that he’s ready to be a starter. But that won’t mean that DiPietro would be the Ilya Sorokin-type goalie Oilers fans hope the team can land.
Ultimately, DiPietro, while a good choice, would be a stopgap measure to appease the call from fans, urging the organization to do something about the seeming goaltending crisis in Edmonton.
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