With the Edmonton Oilers’ 7-4 loss against the Washington Capitals at the Capital One Arena, fans are back with desperate appeals to replace Stuart Skinner. Skinner’s performance during the Oilers- Capitals showdown is difficult to defend. The netminder registered a save percentage of .737, making 14 saves.

Such trying times are in Edmonton that the community is drawing on the 2021 draft and the standout goalie the team lost out on. Given Skinner and the team’s overall performance lately, the fans, as expected, are not letting it slide.

Fans Go Ballistic on the Edmonton Oilers for Losing Jesper Wallstedt

In the 2021 draft, the Oilers could have drafted Jesper Wallstedt, the 23-year-old goalie of the Minnesota Wild, who has a save percentage of .926 so far this season. In 2021, the Oilers had the 20th pick to draft the 23-year-old but agreed with the Wild to trade it for picks no. 22 and no. 90 overall. The Oilers prioritized adding forward Xavier Bourgault.

Bourgault was traded by the Oilers to the Ottawa Senators in 2024 and now plays for the Belleville Senators of the AHL. Looking back, the decision not to draft Wallstedt is not faring too well for the Oilers.

Fans have been vocal about their discontent with Edmonton missing out on the netminder. Wallstedt registered an SV% of .933, 1.000, 1.000, and .926 over the last four games, all of which Minnesota ended up winning.

“One’s gotta think the oilers are deeply regretting not drafting wallstedt when they had the chance,” posted one social media user about the Oilers as the team struggles to find its footing, especially on the defensive and goaltending ends.

To further rile up the community, Wallstedt has recently garnered attention with a remarkable personal achievement. The 23-year-old posted the longest shutout sequence in the Wild’s history and the fourth longest by any of the franchise’s goaltenders, according to NHL Public Relations.

Dustin Nielson, President of Edmonton Sports Talk, criticized the Oilers on X, clearly frustrated by the team’s recurring goalie woes. “I’ll never not be stunned that the Oilers traded out of the spot to take Wallstedt. I thought it was incredible that he fell to them. Oh well, goaltending is fine anyway.”

I’ll never not be stunned that the Oilers traded out of the spot to take Wallstedt. I thought it was incredible that he fell to them. Oh well, goaltending is fine anyway. 😂😂😂 https://t.co/qnlWL293fk

— Dustin Nielson (@nielsonTSN1260) November 20, 2025

Another social media user offered their balanced take that while there was no way to know back in 2021 how Wallstedt would fare in the NHL, the contrast between him and Skinner stings. “i usually don’t like to fret about missed draft picks because every other team before also passed on the guy, and you never know how it’ll pan out at the time or if it would have went the same way… but hard not to be slapped in the face by this contrast lol.”

i usually don’t like to fret about missed draft picks because every other team before also passed on the guy, and you never know how it’ll pan out at the time or if it would have went the same way… but hard not to be slapped in the face by this contrast lol

— kabir 🐜 (@sausagehobbit) November 20, 2025

An Oilers fan also drew upon the situation to note that while the Wild goalie is leaping towards success, Edmonton struggles through and through. “Oh the irony seeing this guy break out when Oiler goaltending is literally rock bottom and worst in franchise history statistically.

An X user believes that with Wallstedt in the Oilers crease, the Stanley Cup pursuit could have ended a lot differently for the team. “This was the oversight that cost us at least one cup.”

While the goaltending situation has been rough, the team as a whole, especially on the defensive end, has come under scrutiny.