The Edmonton Oilers have been looking to find some sort of solution to their apparent shortcomings in the crease this season.
One of the solutions that has emerged has been the signing of Alberta native and recently-acquitted netminder Carter Hart.
Ever since Hart and the other players involved in the Hockey Canada trial were cleared of criminal charges, speculation began about Hart joining the Oilers.
However, insider Frank Seravalli shot down that idea during an appearance on B/R Open Ice on September 16.
He stated:
“Carter Hart is not going to be signing with the hometown Edmonton Oilers. I’ve been told that that’s a non-starter for the Oilers organization, and that they’re not going down that path, even though they could probably use a change in net, or at least a battle or competition.”
While Seravalli didn’t go into the specifics of why the Oilers would seemingly pass on adding Hart, the fact is that the Oilers might be looking for help in a different direction.
It’s worth pointing out that the goalie market is at a standstill at the moment. So, it’s not clear where the Oilers might be able to find help in the crease.
Both Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are heading into the final year of their respective deals. So, it would make sense for the Oilers to explore other options to replace Skinner or Pickard if extending them is not in the cards.
Oilers Could Use More Organizational Goaltending Depth
The Edmonton Oilers’ organizational goalie depth is concerning. Beyond Skinner and Pickard, the club doesn’t have a solid NHL goalie in the system.
The Oilers signed Matt Tomkins this offseason, essentially as their third-string goalie. However, Tomkins has all of six games of NHL experience with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2023-24 season.
The Chicago Blackhawks‘ seventh-round pick from the 2012 NHL Draft has been a career-long AHL netminder. Yet, he’s the next line of defense if one of Skinner or Pickard goes down.
That’s an alarming prospect, especially for a team looking to get back to the Stanley Cup Final for a third year in a row.
On the bright side, Tomkins had a good showing with the AHL Syracuse Crunch last season. He posted a 2.55 GAA and a 0.907 SV% in 26 games. So, Tomkins would be a solid addition to the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.
Edmonton Must Prioritize Organization Depth
The Oilers have three other netminders in the system. They are all 23 or under and unlikely to make an impact at the NHL level this season.
That situation, again, is not becoming of a Stanley Cup contender. The Oilers must prioritize their organizational depth if they are to remain competitive for the foreseeable future.
Edmonton could take a page out of the Buffalo Sabres’ book. The Sabres recently signed UFA goalie Alexandar Georgiev to a one-year deal. Georgiev, while hardly a starting goaltender at this point, provided the Sabres with plenty of depth.
Georgiev, as a third-stringer, provides excellent depth behind starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and backup Alex Lyon. That’s the sort of situation the Oilers must emulate. There’s still time for the club to pick up one or two free-agent goalies.
Time is running out for the Oilers to prove to Connor McDavid they are serious about winning.
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