Will the Edmonton Oilers Trade Stuart Skinner to Upgrade Goaltending?
The Edmonton Oilers continue to struggle with their goaltending as the new season unfolds, prompting speculation about possible trades to strengthen the position. The team's slow start in Alberta has reignited concerns over their goaltending duo of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, whose performance issues show no signs of improvement.
Skinner has yet to find consistent form, while Pickard ranks among the worst in league statistics over the season's first month. This is despite the team's effort to improve by hiring a new goalie coach, Peter Aubry, during the summer.
Goaltending remains a major challenge for the Oilers, with only four of their 14 games featuring a goalie posting a save percentage above .900. This situation raises the question of whether trading Skinner to acquire a more reliable goaltender could be the right move.
Insights from TSN's Ryan Rishaug
“If a deal comes up that allows Stan Bowman to make a trade tomorrow that he knows in his gut is an upgrade in net and it involves moving on from Stuart Skinner, it’s done. I don’t think that deal is gonna happen, I don’t think that deal is there to be had."
Rishaug's comments suggest that while the Oilers are open to trading Skinner for an upgrade, no suitable trade seems imminent.
Summary
Despite efforts to fix their goaltending, Edmonton may consider trading Stuart Skinner, but a fitting upgrade deal is currently unlikely.
Would you like the summary to be more detailed or concise?