In the 2026 playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers looked vulnerable in many areas, but one area was prominently visible during the Anaheim Ducks series: goaltending. The Oilers allowed a total of 25 goals in six games while running the Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry tandem.
As the young Ducks team exploited the Oilers’ flaw, the outcome was prewritten, especially with star forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl playing through injuries. The Ducks ousted the Oilers 4-2, and now the franchise is looking for ways to fix its issues as Oilers management wants to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of a championship in the McDavid-Draisaitl era.
With the NHL salary cap jumping to $104 million next season, and the Oilers in need of a change in net, pending unrestricted free agent Ingram is one of the most attractive goaltending options available, but Edmonton could face a fight to keep him in town.
Atlantic Division Teams Emerging as Threats for Connor Ingram
Ingram quietly rebuilt his value during the 2025-26 season after the Oilers acquired him from the Utah Mammoth in October 2025 for future considerations. The 29-year-old eventually earned a larger workload after Jarry struggled throughout the year.
Edmonton initially hoped Ingram could provide some long-term stability in net, but his future with the organization now appears uncertain because of growing outside interest and the team’s broader offseason plans in goal.
Ottawa Senators insider Bruce Garrioch reported in his recent column for the Ottawa Citizen that several teams view Ingram as a reliable and affordable option in a thin market.
“The Oilers likely will try to retain Ingram before he becomes a free agent on July 1, but the goaltending in Edmonton is under the microscope,” Garrioch wrote. He also noted that Ingram’s contract situation and market value could make him attractive to teams looking for a dependable tandem goaltender without committing major money or a longer term.
Ingram finished the 2025-26 season with a 16-10-3 record, an .899 save percentage, and a 2.60 goals-against average. However, his postseason numbers dipped sharply as Edmonton averaged over 4 goals per game against Anaheim. The Oilers struggled, while both Ingram and Jarry failed to deliver timely saves during critical stretches of the series.
Despite those playoff concerns, league executives still believe Ingram fits well as a secondary starter or strong backup on a playoff-caliber roster. Garrioch added that “there won’t be the same bidding war that would exist with a guy like Skinner,” but also pointed out that Ingram “proved to be a reliable backup and would help to complement Linus Ullmark.”
The Senators found reliable goaltending in Ullmark but had no good backup options through the playoffs or the regular season. Former NHL goalie and TSN analyst Jamie McLennan also backed the idea during his conversation with Garrioch, saying, “Connor Ingram is one of the names that you’d have to look at.”
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Meanwhile, the challenge for Edmonton is balancing immediate improvement with cap flexibility. Jarry still carries a $5.35 million cap hit through 2028, and insiders continue linking the Oilers to bigger goaltending targets such as Filip Gustavsson, Jordan Binnington, and Mackenzie Blackwood.
If Edmonton commits to chasing a true No. 1 goalie this summer, keeping Ingram may become increasingly difficult. With multiple Atlantic Division teams expected to pursue affordable crease help once free agency opens, the Oilers could soon lose another piece from an already unstable goaltending picture.
