The Edmonton Oilers are about to get some help in the net with a trade?
The Edmonton Oilers' goaltending situation raises concerns since the inconsistent performances threaten to kill their playoff aspirations.
The struggles of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have started discussions again about trading for an experienced goaltender and John Gibson's is an intriguing possibility.
Despite Stuart Skinner having flashes of eliteness earlier in his career, he appears to be in another slump since the beginning of the season and has lost three of his last five starts with a save percentage below .900.
He has dropped his season-long save percentage to .899, but he recent game against Washington showed his inconsistency again since he allowed a soft second goal on just 14 shots in the game and it contributed to the Oilers' 3-2 loss.
Meanwhile, Calvin Pickard has struggled to be a reliable backup and is leaving Edmonton's goaltending tandem among the NHL's weakest in term of statistics.
Both Skinner and Pickard rank in the bottom third of the league in Goals Saved Above Expected since Stuart Skinner and Pickard are 43rd and 50th out of 64 goalies.
The Oilers now share this unenviable distinction with rebuilding teams like the Flyers, Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Sharks-clearly not company a contender wants to keep.
John Gibson on his side could be a game-changer for the Oilers but his numbers have dipped in recent years, but It can be attributed to Anaheim's defensive struggles.
A change of scenery to a team with playoff aspirations like Edmonton might help his career and bring stability to Edmonton's crease.
But there are some concerns with John Gibson's $6.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 but if Anaheim wants to retain 50%, Edmonton could acquire him for $3.2 million annually.
Additionally, Edmonton must create cap space to accommodate even with a reduced salary and this might involve moving contracts or leveraging a third team to make the financials work.
Would you do the move on a John Gibson trade or should the Oilers look elsewhere for a solution?
