The Edmonton Oilers’ season came to a disappointing end after a first-round playoff exit against the young Anaheim Ducks. Now, heading into the offseason, Edmonton faces more questions than answers about the future of the roster.
With roster changes in the offing, an NHL insider has linked the Oilers to a two-time Stanley Cup champion as the team looks to finally solve one of its long-standing issues.
Oilers Could Turn to 2-Time Cup Champion for Help
Goaltending once again proved to be one of Edmonton’s biggest weakness. Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram both struggled during the Round 1 series, with the Oilers allowing 23 goals in six games. Edmonton never found consistency in net, and their defensive breakdowns only added to the problem.
The organization already made a major move in December by trading Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh in exchange for Jarry, but injuries and inconsistent play prevented the gamble from paying off. Connor Ingram eventually took over the crease, though the results still weren’t enough to save the series.
After the season ended, Oilers captain Connor McDavid described the team during exit interviews as “an average team with high expectations,” making it clear that changes could be coming.
Now, NHL insider Jeff Marek has connected Edmonton to two-time Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky. Marek said: “There will be a market for him, we’ve talked before about San Jose, maybe is there an Edmonton angle.”
Bobrovsky recently completed his seven-year, $70 million contract with the Florida Panthers. If the two sides fail to agree on an extension before free agency opens, the veteran goalie could hit the open market this summer.
There’s no denying the impact Bobrovsky has had in Florida. He played a major role in leading the Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships over the Oilers, cementing his place as one of the most important players in franchise history.
Still, this season was more challenging for the veteran netminder. In 52 games, Bobrovsky posted an .877 save percentage along with a 3.07 goals-against average, numbers well below the standard fans have come to expect from him.
There is a caveat here, though. Bobrovsky has never been his most reliable self in the regular season. Florida has historically seen the former Vezina Trophy winner take his game up three notches by the time the Stanley Cup Playoffs roll around. The Panthers’ laundry list of injuries also played a part in Bobrovsky’s down year.
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Bobrovsky himself has made it clear he wants to stay in Florida, with Elliotte Friedman reporting the veteran has no plans to retire. “He said no, I wanna play,” Friedman said. “And I asked him, anything that matters to you, travel, geography, certain places you’re willing and not willing to go, and he just said, he is playing right down here, I wanna be here.”
If Florida moves on from Sergei Bobrovsky, the Oilers could become a strong landing spot for the veteran netminder. For now, his future remains uncertain as the offseason approaches.
