The Edmonton Oilers haven’t had the best of luck with goaltenders. This isn’t a secret to anyone who has been paying attention to the team during the Connor McDavid era. Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Cam Talbot, Jack Campbell, Laurent Brossoit, Anders Nilsson, Stuart Skinner, and Calvin Pickard have all tended the twine since McDavid broke out into the NHL.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but it’s easy to see how the current tandem is the best of the bunch. That highlights how important it is for management to get the goaltending position correct.
Daily Faceoff has recently published an article on 13 goalie candidates the Oilers could trade for. Here are the goaltenders in question and some observations about each of them.
Oilers Trade Candidates: Goalie List Edition
On October 23rd, Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff published a list of goaltenders. He organized the list of goalie candidates into tiers.
Here are all 13 goalies listed, with additional statistics. Note: Every “What he said” section will feature an excerpt about the team or player from Larkin’s piece.
First Goalie Tier: Stopgaps
Alex Lyon
Alex Lyon of the Buffalo Sabres has been a solid goalie for a while. Not to mention that the Sabres are filled to the gills with goalies, including Devon Levi, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, and Alexander Georgiev.
What he said: “Lyon, 32, has demonstrated an ability to get hot and hold his own as a starter for extended stretches,” Larkin wrote in his piece. “That said, we can’t confidently claim he’s better than Skinner day in and day out.”
Lyon’s Career Stats: GP-119, Wins-53, Shutouts-5, GAA-2.96, SV%-.904
David Rittich
Oilers fans are familiar with David Rittich because of his time with the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings. He might become available once the New York Islanders get a goalie back from injury, but he’s not better than Connor Ingram.
What he said: “He has a .904 career SV% compared to Skinner’s .906, so we can’t call ‘Big Save Dave’ a definitive upgrade,” Larkin wrote.
Rittich’s Career Stats: GP-231, Wins-109, Shutouts-7, GAA-2.78, SV%-.904%
Semyon Varlamov
The goalie returning to the Islanders will be Semyon Varlamov, 37. It is doubtful that the Oilers will trade for him, given his age and his spotty usage in recent years.
What he said: “Varlamov remains sidelined as he works his way back from a knee injury. When Varlamov returns, the Isles will have a logjam and could ship one of their veterans to a goalie-needy club.”
Varlamov’s Career Stats: GP-621, Wins-289, Shutouts-41, GAA-2.65, SV%-.916
Best Option For Stopgap Tier: Alex Lyon.
Second Tier- Best Youthful Options
Arturs Silovs
Arturs Silovs is another goalie that Oilers fans are well acquainted with. Before he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Oilers faced him when he was with the Vancouver Canucks. He would be an interesting option.
What he said: “He’s just 24 and only has 23 regular-season appearances to his name, so the 2023 World Championship MVP possesses underrated upside.”
Silovs’ Career Stats: GP-23, Wins-11, Shutouts-1, GAA-2.97, SV%-.887
Arvid Soderblom
Fans familiar with Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman already know the connection to Arvid Soderblom. Both the Oilers GM and the team’s new goalie coach (Peter Aubry) are familiar with Soderblom, which can go a long way.
What he said: “Soderblom has just one season after this one at $2.75 million per year, and prospect Drew Commesso is approaching NHL-backup readiness, faring well with AHL Rockford. If the Hawks find themselves out of contention by winter, they could probably spare Soderblom, who quietly graded out above average in expected goals against per 60 last season.”
Soderblom’s Career Stats: GP-88, Wins-18, Shutouts-0, GAA-3.55, SV%-.889
Best Option For Youthful Tier: Arvid Soderblom
GettyIs Arvid Soderblom the answer for the Oilers?
Third Tier: Buy-Low Bargains
Tristan Jarry
Tristan Jarry was linked to the Oilers in the offseason. It makes sense because he clearly needs a change of scenery and played for the Edmonton Oil Kings during his junior hockey years.
What he said: “He’s a good goalie when his head is clear; he’s finished seventh in the Vezina Trophy vote twice. He also looks quite competent early in 2025-26.”
Jarry’s Career Stats: GP-296, Wins-154, Shutouts-22, GAA-2.74, SV%-.910
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
With the Sabres’ plethora of goalies, it shouldn’t be surprising to see another option from them on this list. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has significant upside and is very young.
What he said: “At 26, with good size and athleticism, he could blossom with a competitive club playing in front of him. If the Sabres decide to usher in the Levi era, might they be willing to part with Luukkonen?”
Luukkonen’s Career Stats: GP-155, Wins-71, Shutouts-7, GAA-3.06, SV%-.898
Best Option: Jarry
Fourth Tier: Realistic Targets
John Gibson
The Oilers have been linked to John Gibson in the past. With the Detroit Red Wings being a potential Wild Card team, this could certainly happen if they fall out of the race.
What he said: “Gibson reminded us last year that he still has the ceiling of a top-end starter. If the Wings need to address a need elsewhere in their lineup, could they trade from their position of extreme organizational surplus?”
Gibson’s Career Stats: GP-510, Wins-206, Shutouts-24, GAA-2.89, SV%-.910
Cam Talbot
Cam Talbot has a history with his current coach, Todd McLellan. He also has a history with the Oilers. Making a return to Edmonton would only happen if the Red Wings are out of the playoff race early.
What he said: “Their current duo is blocking mega-prospect Sebastian Cossa…but Trey Augustine, who may be an even better prospect, will turn pro soon enough, and someone will have to play in the NHL eventually.”
Talbot’s Career Stats: GP-537, Wins-269, Shutouts-33, GAA-2.65, SV%-.913
Elvis Merzlikins
Elvis Merzlikins was linked to the Oilers following the team’s scouting deployment. He is both realistic and a buy-low candidate.
What he said: “If Greaves wins the starting gig outright, Merzlikins could become a trade chip – though perhaps Edmonton would need to send a goalie Columbus’ way. They have Ivan Fedotov in the AHL, but he has a ways to go.”
Merzlikins’ Career Stats: GP-247, Wins-96, Shutouts-11, GAA-3.19, SV%-.902
Best Option: Cam Talbot
Final Tier: The Home-Run Swings
Joey Daccord
Joey Daccord is playing backup for the Seattle Kraken behind Karel Vejmelka. He could be worth a swing, but I wouldn’t sell the farm to do so.
What he said: “Over the previous two seasons, among goalies with at least 50 games, he posted the fifth-best SV% in the NHL. I’m not saying Daccord is or should be available, but might he be for a Godfather offer from a desperate team?”
Daccord’s Career Stats: GP-131, Wins-52, Shutouts-5, GAA-2.77, SV%-.906
Ilya Sorokin
Ilya Sorokin is an incredible goaltender who was a Vezina Finalist a few years ago. The Islanders have fallen off since then, which may cause them to consider a change in net.
What he said: “Sorokin is an elite-tier stopper, with a .915 career SV% that places him 23rd on the NHL’s all-time list. He’s still in his prime by goalie-age standards at 30.”
Sorokin’s Career Stats: GP-258, Wins-127, Shutouts-22, GAA-2.60, SV%-.916
Juuse Saros
Juuse Saros is right up there with Sorokin in terms of consistent and elite performances. Like Sorokin, he has been a Vezina Trophy finalist in recent years.
What he said: “Call it a hunch that a Predators fire sale looms. Would Nashville ever consider moving Saros, who has a full no-movement clause and is just commencing an eight-year contract? Would Saros and Trotz at least be open to a conversation about it?”
Saros’ Career Stats: GP-414, Wins-204, Shutouts-27, GAA-2.68, SV%-.914
Best Option: Ilya Sorokin
GettyCan the Oilers add a goalie to help them win a Stanley Cup?
Which Goalies Are Upgrades Over What the Oilers Have Now?
To see which of these goalies would actually improve the team’s likelihood of hoisting a Stanley Cup, they must be compared to Skinner and Pickard’s numbers.
Skinner’s Career Stats: GP-179, Wins-100, Shutouts-8, GAA-2.71, SV%-.906
Pickard’s Career Stats: GP-177, Wins-70, Shutouts-5, GAA-2.89, SV%-.903
Six of the 13 trade candidates have a higher SV% than Skinner and Pickard: Varlamov, Jarry, Gibson, Talbot, Sorokin, and Saros. Daccord, Rittich, and Lyon have an SV% better than Pickard’s.
GettyWould any of these goalies help the Oilers?
The best option for the Oilers is one of Saros or Sorokin. They have a similar GAA and SV%. Additionally, they have a similar total of shutouts in their career. Sorokin gets the edge because he has played over 100 fewer games than Saros.
Talbot would be a great third option. He has a relatively inexpensive contract and career numbers similar to those of Sorokin and Saros.
Either way, acquiring one of these nine goaltenders means trading one of Pickard or Connor Ingram. If that cost is the price of a Stanley Cup, the Oilers should gladly pay it.
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