Goaltender Connor Ingram is expected to hit the NHL’s waiver wire after Utah Mammoth general manager Bill Armstrong said Wednesday that Ingram and the club came to a mutual agreement to part ways.

Ingram played only 22 games for Utah last season before entering the league’s Player Assistance Program on March 9. He was cleared from the program on Aug. 20 and is ready to resume his playing career.

“We’re so excited for him and his path to recovery,” Armstrong said Wednesday. “That’s the biggest thing. We always look at the player and the person, and as far as the person, it’s incredible to know that he’s back and ready to play.”

While Utah is happy for Ingram to return to the ice, Armstrong said the team feels set at the position and that it would be best for Ingram not to join the team for training camp, which opens this week.

“We will, at some point in time, put him through waivers,” Armstrong said. “Through that process, he will either get a chance to play for another NHL team or he will go to an American Hockey League team and resume his playing. At the end of the day, he will be playing, and that’s what we’re so excited for.”

Karel Vejmelka is the clear No. 1 goalie in Utah. He signed a five-year, $23.75 million extension in March after starting 55 games in 2024-25. The Mammoth signed Vitek Vaněček to a one-year contract worth $1.5 million at the opening of free agency, and still have Jaxson Stauber (who played in six games last season) under contract for two more seasons.

Ingram is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a cap hit of $1.95 million. He posted a .882 save percentage and -6.92 goals saved above expected in 22 starts last season, but he’s only one year removed from an outstanding 2023-24 campaign, in which Ingram led the NHL with six shutouts and finished 13th with 17.68 GSAx.

In four NHL seasons, Ingram has a record of 39-44-15 and a .902 save percentage. He won the 2024 Masterton Trophy, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Based on how last season went for Ingram, the other 31 teams may not be willing to take him on at his current cap hit. If he passes through waivers, he would be reassigned to Utah’s AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners. If that happens, $1.15 million of his cap hit would be buried, which could make trading for him more attractive to teams around the league.

If Ingram does end up leaving the organization — through trade or waiver claim — which teams need a veteran backup?

Edmonton Oilers

It seems no list of teams needing goaltending is complete without the Oilers. Edmonton general manager Stan Bowman said Wednesday that he likes where the team is with Stuart Skinner entering the season as the starter, but adding another goalie to the depth chart certainly wouldn’t hurt.

Ingram may not be a flashy, team-altering acquisition in net, but at the very least, he could serve as an upgrade over Calvin Pickard at the backup spot if he can return to form.

Vegas Golden Knights

The Golden Knights are set with Adin Hill as their clear starter, fresh off the six-year, $37.5 million extension he signed in March, but they could be looking for a veteran goalie to add to the mix. As of now, Akira Schmid is set to back up Hill. He spent the majority of last season in the AHL, where he struggled. He did have a few nice starts at the end of last season and has the belief of the coaching staff.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Vegas added Ingram, even as a third option in the AHL. While Hill played a career-high 50 starts last season, he has struggled with injuries in the past, so goalie depth should be a priority for the Golden Knights. Schmid is talented but inexperienced, so Ingram could provide more security.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy led the NHL with 63 starts in the regular season last year. Now that he’s on the other side of 30, it may be wise for the Lightning to lighten his load a bit. Part of the reason for that heavy workload is the lack of confidence in backup Jonas Johansson. He had a 9-6-3 record and .895 save percentage, and enters this season as the clear No. 2 once again.

Vasilevskiy will still play the lion’s share of the games, as he should, but adding a veteran such as Ingram to the depth chart could allow Tampa Bay to manage Vasilevskiy more throughout the season and keep him fresh for the playoffs.

Ottawa Senators

The Senators are pretty set with Linus Ullmark in the starter’s crease and two talented young backups in Leevi Merilainen and Mads Søgaard behind him. However, Ottawa leaned on veteran backup Anton Forsberg pretty heavily last season with 27 starts. He signed with Los Angeles in free agency, so if the Senators aren’t quite ready to hand the reins to the youngsters, it would make sense to add a veteran such as Ingram to the depth chart.

(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)