Edmonton entered the 2025-26 season with high hopes, but inconsistent play has made the journey rough. A team capable of dominant stretches has often lost poorly due to shaky goaltending, leaving fans uneasy. The Oilers’ recent struggles underline the urgent need for stability in goal, especially as crucial games continue to slip away and division positioning becomes more unpredictable.
As the season has progressed, the goaltending situation has grown from a minor concern into a pressing issue that impacts every aspect of the lineup. The team’s recent 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre showed just how fragile Edmonton’s net presence has become.
Oilers’ Goaltending Crisis Deepens as Connor Ingram Struggles to Deliver
Edmonton’s decision to shuffle its goaltending corps has yet to pay dividends. Stuart Skinner, who had been the Oilers’ primary netminder, was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a deal that brought Tristan Jarry to Edmonton, along with the exchange of defenseman Brett Kulak and a second-round draft pick.
While Jarry showed promise in his first outing, posting a 3.00 goals-against average and .893 save percentage, the Oilers cannot rely on a single game to solve long-term instability. Calvin Pickard has continued to struggle in the backup role, compiling a 4.06 goals-against average and .851 save percentage over 11 games, which has only increased pressure on Edmonton’s goaltending depth.
Connor Ingram (another depth goalie for the Oilers), meanwhile, has faced a challenging start to his 2025-26 campaign with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL. Despite his three-year, $5.85 million contract, Ingram’s performance has been far below expectations, as he posted a 4-5-2 record with a 4.04 goals-against average and a .856 save percentage over 11 games.
Heavy workloads and defensive lapses have compounded his struggles, highlighted by a recent outing against the Tucson Roadrunners, where he allowed seven goals in a win, finishing with a .741 save percentage.
Analyst Mathew Panchyshyn highlighted Ingram’s difficulties on X, noting,
“Ingram has a league-worst .856 sv% in the AHL this season (+480 min played).”
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Ingram’s reflections from November suggest that he is aware of the psychological and structural adjustments necessary to rebound. He described the challenge of returning to form after extended breaks, saying,
“I think it was almost eight months between hockey games for me. It’ll come back. I think it’s right there.”
He also expressed confidence in his abilities, noting,
“When I was in Arizona, I was the NHL first star of the week. I have a Masterton (Trophy) sitting in my basement that no one will ever take away from me. I haven’t changed. It’s still right there. I’ve been doing this for long enough that I have faith in it. I don’t feel like I have to make major changes anymore. I’ve got such a big gap in my resume. Once you lay a base down, then you can lean on it and go back to it. At the end of the day, it’s just hockey.”
For a team chasing the Stanley Cup, relying on a fluctuating net presence jeopardizes every win, making it clear that Edmonton’s contingency plan for goaltending has not gone as intended.
