In their seemingly never-ending quest for a goalie who can stop a puck, the Edmonton Oilers have cast a hopeful eye on not one, not two, but all three of the Montreal Canadiens’ netminders, according to the ever-optimistic Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet.
“A number of teams who were in Montreal said that Edmonton was there looking at all three of Montreal’s goaltenders. I don’t believe there’s anything imminent there, I just think it’s the Oilers continuing to do their due diligence.”
But hey, hold your horses, Oilers fans! Don’t get too excited about a potential deal. Friedman warns that the Oilers are trying really hard not to make a trade they’ll regret. Because, you know, their track record with goalies is just stellar.
“(Edmonton) is determined not to make a panic trade that they’ll regret, but there’s no question that with every loss — like the one they had this afternoon — the focus continues more on them,”
The Oilers’ goaltending has been about as reliable as a chocolate teapot, contributing generously to their stellar 5-10-1 start this season. Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell have been putting on a goaltending clinic with a combined save percentage that would make a sieve blush.
In a bold move, Campbell was shipped off to the AHL, and in his place, the Oilers summoned Calvin Pickard from the depths of the hockey underworld. Yet, Pickard is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine, having not made a single appearance in an NHL game this season.
Now, let’s talk about the Canadiens, a team so generous they have not one, not two, but three goalies to spare! Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Cayden Primeau are all up for grabs. Sure, they’re stuck in rebuild mode, but who needs a decent goalie when you can have three average ones, right?
Let’s break down the stats, because who doesn’t love numbers? Allen and Montembeault are posting numbers that make you think they actually know how to stop a puck. Meanwhile, Primeau is the rookie of the trio, with stats that make you question if he’s ever seen a puck before.
(As of Saturday, all statistics provided, including GSAx (goals saved above expected), are courtesy of Evolving-Hockey.)
| GOALIE | GP | GAA | SV% | GSAX |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen | 7 | 3.30 | .911 | 4.64 |
| Montembeault | 8 | 2.78 | .908 | 4.48 |
| Primeau | 3 | 3.97 | .885 | 0.98 |
Oh, and let’s not forget the thrilling salary cap dance the Oilers would have to perform. Allen is the high roller at $3.85 million, meaning the Oilers might need to pawn a few sticks to afford him. Montembeault and Primeau are more budget-friendly, but knowing the Oilers, they’ll find a way to make it complicated.
| GOALIE | AGE | CAP HIT | YEARS LEFT | EXPIRY STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen | 33 | $3.85M | 2 | UFA |
| Montembeault | 27 | $1M | 1 | UFA |
| Primeau | 24 | $890K | 2 | RFA |
So, Oilers faithful, buckle up for another thrilling goalie saga, as your team dives into the deep, murky waters of the goalie market. Will they find a gem, or will they end up with another goalie who thinks the puck is more of a suggestion than a rule? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for the next episode of “Oilers Goaltending Chronicles: The Never-Ending Quest.”
