Rumour: Another move coming in Edmonton

The Edmonton Oilers are set to enter the 2021-22 season with a shaky tandem in net with 39-year-old starter Mike Smith and 33-year-old backup Mikko Koskinen, and this prompted Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman to report in his latest 32 Thoughts column that GM Ken Holland is not done in goal. 

“I don’t think Edmonton is done in goal. That storyline sticks around for a while. Mike Smith will be there, but what happens around him?”

Holland has been knee-deep in the goalie market through the past two off-seasons, and has now missed out on UFA Jacob Markstrom and was unfortunately unable to secure Darcy Kuemper… 

There is already another backup option in Edmonton with 34-year-old Alex Stalock, but the guy hasn’t played a game since the pandemic struck, and battled a Covid-induced heart condition called myocarditis. On Wednesday, Holland announced that Stalock is unlikely to play this season as he continues to get evaluated for a possible heart condition.

What is next? 

While Holland might be looking hard at options, the fact remains that he is stuck with Koskinen, who carries that $4.5 million cap hit for this season plus a 15-team no-trade list.

If Smith goes down for any length of time this season, the Oilers are in trouble. That’s why you have to believe that Friedman is right and another move will be coming in between the pipes. Sure some young prospects are coming up, including Stuart Skinner, Ilya Konovalov and Olivier Rodrigue, but could any of them stand between the pipes of an Oilers playoff game in the next few seasons?

You have to believe this is not what Holland wants. We better keep an eye on this.