The Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, capturing their second consecutive championship. The victory highlighted a glaring weakness that could define Edmonton’s offseason strategy.
Sam Reinhart scored four goals for the Panthers in the clinching Game 6, while Matthew Tkachuk added one. But goalie Sergei Bobrovsky stole the spotlight. The 36-year-old posted a .966 save percentage in the final game, stopping 28 of 29 shots to seal the title.
Bobrovsky’s dominant performance exposed Edmonton’s biggest problem. The Oilers struggled with goaltending throughout the series. While Bobrovsky excelled, Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner managed just an .861 save percentage for the series.
Most analysts agree the Oilers must address their goaltending issues this offseason.
Oilers Face Goaltending Crisis After Second Straight Cup Loss
Though Skinner had been reliable for Edmonton in previous seasons, his Stanley Cup performance was disappointing. In Game 4, Skinner allowed three goals on 17 shots before Calvin Pickard replaced him in the second period. Game 3 was worse. Skinner gave up five goals on 23 shots and was pulled.
The poor showing surprised Jesse Granger of The Athletic, who expected the Oilers to add a goalie this week. Granger believes Edmonton has limited options but suggests one intriguing possibility.
“Unless the Oilers can find an unexpected trade partner – such as prying Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen away from Buffalo – they’ll enter the season with question marks in the crease yet again,” Granger wrote. He thinks the 26-year-old Finnish goalie could solve Edmonton’s persistent problems.
Luukkonen is on the rise, and his numbers prove it. In five NHL seasons with the Sabres, the Finnish goalie has posted above-.900 save percentages in three campaigns.
Have yourself a night, UPL! 🙌
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped all 35 shots to earn his second @pepsi shutout of the season! pic.twitter.com/fB1jdKz8m0 — NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2025
Luukkonen’s shutout ability contrasts sharply with Skinner’s struggles. The difference was obvious when Skinner faced Bobrovsky. The veteran Panthers goalie clearly had the upper hand.
Sabres Goalie Could Be Edmonton’s Answer
If the Oilers want Luukkonen, they must make a trade. The goalie signed a five-year, $23.7 million contract with Buffalo in 2024. The deal runs through 2029 with a $4.75 million cap hit.
Edmonton’s goaltending woes contributed to losing two straight championships to the Panthers. Connor McDavid’s leadership and Leon Draisaitl’s scoring couldn’t overcome the position’s weakness. For GM Stan Bowman, acquiring a reliable goalie like Luukkonen might be the most important move he could make.
The Oilers have proven they can reach the Stanley Cup Final. Now they need the goaltending to win it.
Trade Stuart Skinner , he is not able to handle pressure from opposing teams. He panics, . That’s obviously his problem.
Panics!
Who Oilers need more Darnell NURSE, or a very good goalie. It might take some persuade skills from Stan Bowman, but it can make a huge difference for the Oilers team, like on one hand winning a Stanley Cup, or the other hand wasting star players the most productive years and end up with nothing for next five seasons. God GM should be able to find a solution to this problem, an take action as ap, it’s so urgent for beter of the Oilers Team.