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The Edmonton Oilers had another goalie in their sights before closing the deal on Tristan Jarry early on Friday.
The dust is slowly starting to settle on the Edmonton Oilers’ trade for Tristan Jarry on Friday. The deal came as a shock, considering the prevailing chatter had been on the deal’s demise earlier this week.
However, the Oilers pulled off the season’s first shocker and came away with a potential solution in the crease. But before hopping on the Jarry train, Edmonton looked into another goalie.
Insider Elliotte Friedman revealed in his 32 Thoughts blog that the Oilers had looked into bringing in Buffalo Sabres netminder Alex Lyon. Lyon has pretty much been the Sabres’ most reliable goaltender this season. Despite less-than-stellar numbers (3.13 GAA, .902 SV%), the 33-year-old could have been a stopgap for the Oilers.
Here’s what Friedman wrote on the matter:
“I believe the Oilers poked around Alex Lyon. Not as seriously as Jarry, but it was there.”
Friedman did not reveal what a possible deal could have looked like. But one would have to imagine that Calvin Pickard would have gone the other way. Lyon has a much more palatable $1.5 million cap hit for this season and next. As such, the Oilers could have fit Lyon’s contract into their cap situation without significantly disrupting the roster.
Instead, the Oilers took the Penguins’ deal and sent Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak, instead. Thus far, it looks like the Penguins got the better end of the deal. But if the Edmonton Oilers win a Stanley Cup this season, no one will really care about it.
Lyon Would Have Been a Backup in Edmonton
Assuming the Oilers had pulled the trigger on a deal for Alex Lyon, the club would have used him predominantly as a backup. Of course, that is assuming that it would have been Pickard, not Skinner, who got traded.
It’s an interesting thought. But the reality is that Lyon wouldn’t have solved very much for the Oilers. While he could have spelled Skinner for longer stretches than Pickard, it’s doubtful Lyon would have been the sort of goalie that could carry the club in the playoffs.
That’s the hope with Jarry. Jarry comes with a much higher pedigree, despite mixed results. If the Oilers can play much better defense in front of Jarry than the Penguins, there’s a chance the 31-year-old can succeed in Edmonton.
Oilers Fans Could See Jarry in Toronto
The Oilers’ next game will be on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. So, there’s a good chance Jarry will be in goal for that game. If Jarry isn’t fully ready, Pickard will get the start, of course.
Meanwhile, Jarry could sit on the bench backing up Pickard just in case. But the expectation is that Jarry will hit the ground running for the Oilers. A win against the Toronto Maple Leafs would be a great way to start on the right foot.
Edmonton is a pedestrian 5-3-2 in its last 10 games. Perhaps the shakeup in the crease could be the beginning of a major run for the Oilers heading into 2026.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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