The Edmonton Oilers have acquired G Connor Ingram.
“Future Considerations” is the price tag, for now. Ingram is a pending UFA, so that cost may change if this goes well and Edmonton re-signs or extends him.
The twenty-eight-year old goaltender will get the chance to play much closer to his home in Saskatchewan. That is key. We’ll get to the detail on that in a moment.
After a solid rookie season with a bad Arizona team (6-13-8, 3.37 GAA, .907 SV%) in 2022-23, Ingram appeared to turn the corner in a significant way in 2023-24 (23-21-3, 2.91 GAA, .907 SV%).
But then the wheels came off in 2024-25. Ingram’s numbers sunk to 9-8-4, 3.27 GAA, .882 SV%. He struggled with injuries and eventually ended up in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on March 9. Ingram had been in the program previously. This time, it immediately followed the tragic death of his mother from Breast Cancer. A week ago, Utah waived him and he was not claimed.
Two main items on this…
-One, Utah is retaining $800K of Ingram’s $1.95m AAV. And practically all of his salary ($1.15m) will be bury-able. That is key for the cap-challenged Oilers club.
-Two, and related…Ingram will report to the Bakersfield Condors. That gives him to get his feet back on the ground as well as his skates on the ice.
On one hand, one has to admire Ingram’s efforts to work through personal adversity. He was the 2023-24 Masterton Trophy winner. On the other, there is significant risk associated with the player. While it is easy to cheer for him as he continues his personal/professional journey, it is unknown how much a club can count on him (if at all). That is why Bakersfield is the absolute correct place to start.
Even if Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have strong seasons with the big club, a one-two punch of Ingram and Matt Tomkins in Bakersfield should give the organization excellent veteran goaltending depth if injuries or other unforeseen circumstances should come up.
General Manager Stan Bowman:
-“Goalie is that one position where when you need its really difficult sometimes to find it. Because if a guy gets hurt, you’re sort of at the whim of whose available. Often times there is nobody available”. Bowman added “We want to get him back going and when he’s at his best, when he’s well and playing at the top of his game we know he can be a really good goaltender”.
Oilers in Seattle
-The flu big has hit the Oilers dressing room. AHL recalls for tonight’s game include Viljama Marjala, James Hamblin and Connor Clattenburg. Calvin Pickard is expected to start in net.
This article is not AI generated.
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