‘I know for a fact they’re gonna do that’: Edmonton Oilers to tackle goalie issue, insider says
This in from Edmonton Oilers insider Bob Stauffer and his Oilers Now guest Frank Seravalli of the Daily Face-off, an intriguing discussion on the ongoing goalie issues of the Edmonton Oilers, with Stauffer promising the Oilers will deal with the problem, but not until next season.
“I know for a fact they’re gonna do that,” Stauffer said, saying the Oilers will bring in a 1B goalie this summer to challenge back-up Calvin Pickard.
Seravalli started off the discussion noting that starter Stuart Skinner’s inconsistency is the issue. “I think it’s the inconsistency that drives everyone mad… I think what’s really separating him from being in the upper echelon tier of NHL goalies is just that consistency night in and night out. Not everyone’s going to have it every game. And when you’re starting 53 games, you’re going to have some stinkers, even the very best in the world… But I think that’s the part that everyone struggles with is the back and forth rollercoaster nature (of Skinner).”
Edmonton has 32 wins and six losses when it gets a .900+ save percentage from its goalie. Seravalli said, noting that is just league average goaltending.
“It’s not that anyone’s asking for the sun, the moon and the stars from the goaltending. In fact, with the way the Oilers cap table is structured, they can’t ask for that, and it’d be inappropriate to ask for that. But it’s some measure of consistency in the meantime that is required.”
At that point, Stauffer weighed in on what the Oilers plan to do.
“I do expect Edmonton to engage in signing an organizational number three goalie that’s played in the National Hockey League in the last couple of years,” Stauffer said. “I could see that. I think that market will be there for Edmonton.”
Stauffer continued: “I’ll tell you what I don’t want to see happen. I don’t want to see Stuart Skinner get run out of here, get re-calibrated with a different organization like Devin Dubnyk was, and be a pretty good starting goalie for five or six years elsewhere.”
Seravalli said it would be a mistake not to bring in more support for the current tandem.
“I’m saying they’re gonna,” Stauffer said. “I know for a fact they’re gonna do that. How about a guy that would compete with Pickard for the 1B job?”
My take
1. Stuart Skinner just stole a win in outplaying Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers. Shesterkin let one goal but faced 16 Grade A shots, 11 of them 5-alarmers. That works out to 4.6 expected goals against, but just that one got by Skinner. Shesterkin let in three goals on 10 Grade A shots, five of them 5-alarmers. That is 2.65 expected goals against.
Well done, Stuart Skinner. Well done indeed.
2. Perhaps Skinner’s big game signals he’s about to get hot again as a goalie, which would be a good sign. When Skinner is hot, the goalie question goes away in Edmonton, only to come back when Skinner gets cold again.
