Trade discussions often connect teams with clear needs to players who could fill those gaps, but not every situation leads to action. The Edmonton Oilers have once again faced questions about their goaltending after recent results, and outside options have naturally come up.
At the same time, a well-known playoff goalie has been part of trade talk across the league. This situation naturally raises a question about why a move has not taken shape.
Why the Oilers Avoided Jordan Binnington Trade Despite Goaltending Struggles?
The Oilers have been linked to possible changes in goal after a series of losses at a time when wins are urgently required. During a segment on TSN’s OverDrive, the panel discussed whether the team could revisit that position.
Bryan Hayes brought up a loss to the Anaheim Ducks after the Olympics break and said, “They had the lead the whole night, and Jarry gets pulled. He’s been awful.” He then asked, “Is it 0% chance they address the goaltending position again?”
Jeff O’Neill did not rule out the idea and said, “I don’t think it can be zero, dude.” That left room for discussion, but Hayes followed up with a more direct thought. “Like, let’s say Doug Armstrong calls and goes, Binnington’s available. Like, that’s just not happening,” he said, pointing to factors beyond on-ice performance.
Insider Darren Dreger explained why interest around Jordan Binnington has been limited. He said, “I’m surprised there hasn’t been a lot of interest around Binnington, even of late, you know, pre-Olympics, during, post-Olympics. There just isn’t.”
Binnington helped Canada reach the Olympics final, but lost 2-1 in overtime to the USA, missing gold. Dreger’s comment showed that even after a strong international showing, trade momentum has not been built.
Dreger then addressed why a move involving Edmonton may be difficult. “Now, when you talk about Edmonton, it’s complicated, because this is where the boardroom comes into play,” he said.
Dreger added that “the Oilers are still sour that St. Louis picked their pocket,” pointing to past transactions between the two teams. The Blues signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway after the Oilers declined to match offer sheets for both players in Aug. 2024. That history continues to affect how both sides view potential deals.
Jeff O’Neill added, “They had more than an opportunity to re-sign the players, Darren.”
The discussion also included how those players are now part of St. Louis long-term, which keeps the situation relevant.
There were also questions about whether a new management group would change anything. Hayes asked if that would matter, but the panel suggested that ownership views still play a role. Dreger mentioned past connections in management and said those ties can still influence how decisions are made.
The conversation then shifted to whether goaltending is the main issue for Edmonton. Dreger asked, “Doesn’t Edmonton need help in their bottom six?” He mentioned missing players and depth concerns, which suggest that the team may look at other areas before making another change in net.
Jeff O’Neill agreed and said, “They got a lot of problems. They’re in trouble.”
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There was also debate about whether adding another goalie would solve the problem, a goalie like Binnington. Jonas Siegel asked, “Isn’t it just doing the same thing that you just did with Jarry? Isn’t it literally the same thing?”
Hayes responded by pointing to Binnington’s performance in big moments, but the panel did not reach a clear answer.
In the end, several factors explain why no move has happened. Limited league-wide interest, past offer sheet situations between teams, and roster priorities all play a role. Even with Binnington available, the Oilers do not appear close to making that move right now.
