Oilers Signing Kevin Lankinen Could Address Their Goaltending Issues
The Edmonton Oilers have had a busy offseason, involving offer sheets, buyouts, trades, and new signings. Newly appointed general manager Stan Bowman has had a whirlwind start, and while the roster appears mostly set, there is still a glaring need for improvements in the goaltending department.
Current Goaltending Situation
Stuart Skinner is expected to be the starting goaltender, but there are some concerns. Although he finished last season strong—posting a .916 save percentage (SV%) and 20.46 goals saved above expected (GSAx) from Dec. 21st onward, followed by a playoff run with a 14-9-0 record, 2.45 goals against average (GAA), .901 SV%, and 1.9 GSAx—Skinner doesn’t have a long track record of success. Pairing him with a consistent, experienced veteran would be beneficial, but the Oilers currently lack such a player.
Last season, Calvin Pickard overtook Jack Campbell for the backup position and performed well, recording a 12-7-1 record, 2.45 GAA, .909 SV%, and 0.1 GSAx. Despite his $1 million salary making him an affordable backup option, Pickard doesn’t have a solid history of recent NHL success. Before his 23-game stint last season, he had only played 30 NHL games over six seasons, with just seven wins, raising concerns about his reliability mid-season, especially if third-string goaltender Olivier Rodrigue falters. Rodrigue, 24, had a strong season with the Bakersfield Condors last year, but the Oilers still need a veteran goaltender to stabilize their depth. Fortunately, a few options are available.
Collin Delia was also signed this offseason, but he is unlikely to see NHL action. The 30-year-old posted an 11-19-1 record with a 3.55 GAA and .872 SV% in the AHL last season. He hasn’t finished a professional season with a GAA below 3.00 since 2020 and has just 52 career games to his name, making him a risky choice to rely on.
Kevin Lankinen: A Potential Solution
Kevin Lankinen, who posted strong numbers in each of the past two seasons with the Nashville Predators, is still a free agent. The 6-foot-2, 29-year-old recorded a 17-11-6 record with a 2.82 GAA, .908 SV%, and 4.1 GSAx last season. In comparison, Nashville’s 29-year-old starting goaltender Juuse Saros went 35-24-5 with a 2.86 GAA, .906 SV%, and -3.0 GSAx. While this doesn’t suggest Lankinen is as good as Saros, it’s notable that one received a significant contract extension while the other remains unsigned. This is particularly surprising given the strong market for backup goaltenders this offseason, with players like Laurent Brossoit and Anthony Stolarz securing multi-year deals.
Signing Lankinen wouldn’t fully solve the Oilers’ goaltending concerns, but it would be a low-risk, high-reward move. He performed well as Saros’ backup, securing wins against strong teams like the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights, proving he wasn’t just facing weaker competition. While he had some rough outings, including five games where he allowed four or more goals, his experience and success over multiple seasons could provide much-needed stability to the Oilers’ goaltending tandem. Additionally, he could likely be signed for a low cost, perhaps on a one-year, one-way deal worth $1 million or less.
Other Goaltending Options
While Lankinen is the top free-agent option, other goaltenders could still bolster the Oilers’ depth. Antti Raanta, Martin Jones, and Ivan Prosvetov are still free agents and could be signed for a low cost. While they may not be as strong as Lankinen, they could still provide valuable experience and alleviate concerns about depth. Additionally, 22-year-old Yaroslav Askarov, who recently requested a trade from the Predators, could be a target. Acquiring the NHL’s top goaltending prospect would require a significant trade package, but it could address the Oilers’ need for NHL goaltending depth and offer a potential long-term solution.
Kevin Lankinen
Alternatively, the Oilers could wait until the end of the preseason, when goaltenders like Pheonix Copley, Alex Lyon, or James Reimer could become available on waivers.
In the end, depth is crucial for championship teams, and for the Oilers, who have struggled to stabilize their goaltending in recent seasons, signing Lankinen is a smart option. With September approaching, offering Lankinen a one-year deal for under $1 million seems like an easy decision.
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