The Edmonton Oilers could use an upgrade in goal and should look to acquire a goalie to form a tandem with Stuart Skinner.
Heavy.com has a trade idea that sees the Oilers acquiring Charlie Lindgren from the Washington Capitals in a bold move.
Oilers acquire:
Capitals acquire:
- Calvin Pickard
- 2027 fifth-round pick
- 2028 third-round pick
The proposed deal makes sense for both teams, as Edmonton would acquire Lindgren, who would form a tandem with Skinner. Washington, meanwhile, gets a veteran goalie and two draft picks that they can also use as trade chips to bolster their roster.
Edmonton would add Lindgren, who’s entering the first year of a three-year, $9 million deal. Lindgren would form a nice tandem with Skinner and is reliable to start games if Skinner does struggle at times. Lindgren is 31 years old and went 20-14-3 with a 2.73 GAA and a .896 SV% last season with the Capitals.
In return, the Oilers would give up two draft picks and Pickard, who could serve as the Capitals’ backup. Pickard is entering the final year two-year, $2 million deal and would serve as Logan Thompson’s backup. Pickard has taken over as the starting goalie at times in Edmonton, but the Oilers will likely ride with Skinner, meaning Pickard is a trade candidate.
Former NHLer Expects Oilers to Trade Pickard
Although the goalie tandem of Skinner and Pickard has led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, Edmonton has been linked to adding another goalie.
The Oilers have yet to add another goalie this offseason, but former NHL goalie Devan Dubnyk expects Edmonton to trade Pickard.
“I think they’ll do something to upgrade the goaltending,” Dubnyk told The Big Show. “I hate saying that because I love Picks. If that’s the case, I hope he goes somewhere we he can play. I wouldn’t be surprised early on if Edmonton can get someone who can push Skinner.”
Pickard has spent the last two seasons with the Oilers. If Edmonton doesn’t add another goalie, he will be the backup behind Skinner for the third-straight season.
Oilers GM Evaluated Adding a Goalie
After Edmonton lost in the Cup Final again, due to some poor goaltending, the Oilers were urged to acquire another goalie.
However, as the season is just over a month away, Edmonton has yet to add another goalie. But, in the offseason, Oilers’ general manager Stan Bowman said he would evaluate all the goalies to see if he would bring one in.
“Well, the evaluation isn’t something you do just once or twice and then it’s over with. When I say that, it’s not just looking at the goaltending we have, but also what’s out there and options,” Bowman said. “So it’s going to be a process that we’re going to go through. I don’t think we’re going to come to one decision tomorrow or the next day. It’s really about taking in the information, and eventually, we’re going to settle on the thing that we think makes the most sense…
“Part of the evaluation is the guys that we have, and if it makes the most sense to keep this group, that’s certainly a possibility. So I don’t know,” Bowman added. “We’re not at the point where we’re saying we’re definitely bringing in new goalies.”
Edmonton signed Matt Tomkins to add some goalie depth to the system and be the third goalie.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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