The goaltending issues surrounding the Edmonton Oilers are nothing new. It’s been a hot-button topic surrounding Oilers rumors for about the last two or three seasons.
But now, it just seems like the pressure has piled on even higher. The back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses have done nothing to alleviate the pressure on the Oilers to win.
That’s why the club went out to get Tristan Jarry. They wanted an “upgrade” over Stuart Skinner, and, well, the best that Stan Bowman could come up with was Jarry. Unfortunately, the move has largely backfired. Jarry has not played as well as expected in Edmonton, while Skinner has remained steady in Pittsburgh.
But now, according to insider Bob Stauffer, a controversy could be brewing, fueling Oilers rumors. The notable insider pointed out that Edmonton has to get Jarry heading in the right direction. Otherwise, it might be up to Connor Ingram to take over in the playoffs.
“You have to eventually get [Tristan Jarry] going. You make that trade under the belief that he has a higher ceiling than Stuart Skinner, and we haven’t seen that come to fruition in Edmonton.”
Stauffer’s comments paint a sense of urgency for the Oilers. As he noted, Jarry hasn’t quite been the same since an injury back in December. That’s no bueno if the club is to seriously contend in this season’s playoffs.
Oilers Rumors Suggest Club May Face Challenge
The incident involving Oilers goalie Connor Ingram on Tuesday night in Colorado has become the subject of a media frenzy. The controversial hit he took from Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon has set off a firestorm of discussion.
But beyond the controversy, Ingram left the game following the violent impact. Jarry took over and backstopped the Oilers to a 4-3 win over the Avalanche.
As it stands, Oilers rumors suggest Ingram is day-to-day following Tuesday night’s collision. However, the situation could present a challenge for Edmonton. If Ingram misses any significant time, for instance, due to a concussion, the club could be in a tough spot down the stretch.
The Oilers are not locked into a playoff spot just yet. Plus, Jarry is far from a sure thing. That’s why the club hopes that Ingram just needs a couple of days to clear the cobwebs and head back out there.
Edmonton May Just Roll with the Hot Hand
At this point, the Oilers rumors posit that the club may have no other choice but to roll with the hot hand. Doing so would actually be counterproductive to the Jarry trade.
If that hot hand is Jarry, fans won’t complain. If he can perform like he did on Tuesday night in Colorado, fans will take that to the bank.
But if Jarry struggles, and it’s Ingram who gets the call, plenty of controversy will follow. While Oilers fans won’t necessarily complain about Ingram carrying the team, it would lead to plenty of scrutiny about the Skinner trade.
As long as the team wins, the fan base will remain at ease. But if things get out of hand, especially if the Oilers suffer an early playoff exit, the offseason will be one of the hardest in recent memory.
Oilers Rumors: Goalie Controversy May Be Brewing