The Oilers expected a smoother opening to their season, yet the early stretch brought more uncertainty than comfort. Their performance has fluctuated between promising moments and sudden setbacks, disrupting any sense of continuity. The group continues to search for a run of games that feels stable enough to build real momentum.
As those swings have lingered, the conversation around the team has shifted toward the crease, gradually placing their goaltending at the center of the discussion.
Why a Veteran Blackhawks Netminder Is Drawing Interest for the Oilers’ Search?
The Oilers’ 10-10-5 record tells the story of a team capable of strong pushes yet unable to escape the weight of repeated lapses, despite their top players continuing to generate offense at an impressive pace. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain the engines of their offense, generating scoring chances and maintaining a power play that continues to rank among the most effective in the league. At the same time, essential wins against the Panthers, Hurricanes, and Flyers show that the tools for success still exist within the group.
The real strain has appeared in their own zone, where the team allows 3.72 goals per game and often finds itself trying to recover from difficult stretches that shift momentum in the wrong direction. Those defensive gaps have placed more pressure on Stuart Skinner, who continues to handle the bulk of the work in net and carries a larger share of responsibility than most goaltenders in the league.
Skinner’s season has unfolded with a combination of bright moments and challenging nights, as seen in his 8-7-3 record across 18 starts and numbers that reveal the toll of the team’s broader issues. His one shutout and strong performances in wins, paired with a .918 save percentage in those victories, show what he is capable of when the players in front of him offer more substantial support.
Even with those positives, outside pressure has grown louder, and many fans believe the Oilers should explore another option. That conversation gained new direction when NHL insider Elliotte Friedman suggested that Laurent Brossoit could be a name worth watching during the team’s search for help in goal, noting that Edmonton would likely ask Chicago to retain salary if talks progressed.
“Re Oilers goalie search: A guy I’m gonna be curious about…is Laurent Brossoit; you’re gonna ask Chicago to keep money if you’re the Oilers; yes, he hasn’t been healthy, but he doesn’t really cost you anything to go do it,” Friedman said.
Brossoit presents an intriguing possibility because he is in the final year of a two-year, $6.6 million contract and carries a cap hit of $3.3 million. Although he is currently listed in the minors for the Blackhawks and has yet to appear in an NHL game this season, his experience includes a Stanley Cup win with Vegas in 2023 and 140 NHL games with a career save percentage of .911.
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For the Oilers, the idea represents a move that could offer relief without demanding a significant long-term commitment, especially if Chicago agrees to keep part of the salary.