The Edmonton Oilers’ disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks has once again placed a massive spotlight on the team’s biggest problem all season: inconsistent goaltending.
With pressure building on the front office to fix the team’s goaltending problems once and for all and make the most of its championship window, speculation around the Oilers is starting to heat up.
Edmonton has already been connected to several notable names this offseason, and now NHL insider Jeff Marek has linked another big-name, $23.75 million goaltender to the franchise.
Oilers Connected to Another High-Profile Goalie Target
Edmonton’s season came to an end with a 5-2 loss in Game 6 against Anaheim, as the Oilers’ goaltending struggles once again proved costly. Between Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram, the Oilers allowed 23 goals in six games and never found consistency in the crease.
The organization already made a major gamble earlier in the season when it traded Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh for Jarry, but injuries and uneven play prevented the move from paying off. Ingram later stepped in, though Edmonton struggled to stabilize the blue line in time to carry some momentum into the playoffs.
With limited salary cap flexibility and several roster needs to address this offseason, Edmonton is expected to aggressively explore the goalie market.
Names such as Filip Gustavsson, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Jordan Binnington have already surfaced in trade speculation. Now, insider Jeff Marek has floated a possibility involving Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who just completed the second season of his five-year, $23.75 million extension with the Buffalo Sabres.
Marek believes Tristan Jarry is best suited as a backup. “I mentioned earlier about Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen,” Marek said. “I wonder if there could be something there if the Buffalo Sabres decide to move off of him. Or I do wonder about maybe even a bigger package.”
He floated the idea of a deal involving Buffalo’s top young players, such as Jiri Kulich, Devon Levi, or Luukkonen himself, while noting that Oilers GM Stan Bowman may need to get creative this offseason to solve the team’s goaltending issues.
Luukkonen is coming off an outstanding season under coach Lindy Ruff, helping Buffalo capture the Atlantic Division title with a 22-9-3 record, a 2.52 goals-against average, and a .910 save percentage.
Still, Buffalo’s playoff run ended in heartbreaking fashion with a Game 7 overtime loss to Montreal. Marek believes the Sabres’ depth in goal, especially with Levi waiting in the wings, could make Luukkonen available for the right return.
For Edmonton GM Stan Bowman, finding a true No. 1 goalie remains the top priority. If the Oilers somehow land Luukkonen, the question would be if the move really moves the needle in the Western Conference.
