The Edmonton Oilers know the importance of stopping the puck. The duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard isn’t perfect — yet, they have propelled them to the Stanley Cup Final for two straight seasons. For that, they must certainly be doing something right.
According to the Bleacher Report, a bold move the Oilers could execute would be trading Skinner.
Stuart Skinner Could be the Oilers’ Sacrificial Lamb
GettyCan the Oilers find an upgrade on Stuart Skinner & Calvin Pickard?
NHL analyst Sara Civian released her bold trade predictions for the upcoming 2025-26 season. Oilers’ fans will want to pay attention to number six.
“It’s not all goaltender Stuart Skinner‘s fault that the Oilers have not been able to conquer the Panthers in two consecutive Cup Finals,” Civian wrote on September 12. “But the goaltending could certainly be more consistent—and something needs to change for Connor McDavid to raise a Cup in Edmonton.”
In terms of what Skinner brings to the table, Civian highlights his ability to be a starter. She also recognizes that a change of scenery might be best.
“Skinner can be a starter with a $2.6 million contract next year, which is solid value for any team not contending for a Cup,” she wrote. “A team with some goalie-depth uncertainty, like the (Utah) Mammoth or (Buffalo) Sabres, could take a harmless flyer with a contract like that as the Oilers free up space for a different direction in net.”
Mammoth, Sabres, or Bruins: Which is the Best Fit for Skinner?
In this piece, Civian specifically cites the Utah Mammoth, Buffalo Sabres, and Boston Bruins as three potential landing spots. Let’s look at cap space and current goaltenders to see which team is the best fit.
GettyCould the Utah Mammoth have a goalie that makes the Oilers better?
The Mammoth have $6.7 million in salary cap space. They also have goaltenders Karel Vejmelka, Vitek Vanecek, and Connor Ingram signed for this season.
On the surface, it looks like there might be a fit there. However, that might only make sense if the Mammoth sends a goaltender back to the Oilers. Ingram and Vanecek would be the obvious options for that scenario.
Things get interesting when you take a look at the Sabres. They have $5.2 million in cap space but are even more crowded than the Mammoth in net.
On September 11, they signed Alexander Georgiev to a one-year contract. They also have Devon Levi, Alex Lyon, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as options in net. This would be another scenario where the Oilers would have to accept another goaltender in return. That might be Levi or Lyon if they see either goalie as a backup upgrade while they pursue a different starting goaltender option.
Finally, the Bruins only have about $2 million in space to make moves. They currently have Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, and Michael DiPietro all competing for a spot in the net. It’s safe to say that Swayman will occupy one of those two positions, leaving Korpisalo and DiPietro to compete for the remaining spot.
DiPietro has already been connected to the Oilers as a potential waiver wire claim, if he makes it there. That could open the door for a trade. From the Bruins’ perspective, would they rather lose DiPietro for nothing or package him to acquire Skinner?
One way or another, this NHL season is shaping up to be quite the ride for the Oilers and the rest of the league.
Oilers Goalie Has 3 Trade Destinations Named