Suddenly, the Oilers have a pile of goaltenders in the system. Normally the outer marker for the organizational goalie room would be six stoppers. Two in Edmonton, two in Bakersfield, and the final pair in Fort Wayne. Last year, the Oilers had too many goalies, so loaned out Connor Ungar, who proceeded to outplay the ECHL average by a significant amount. Please read this.
The Oilers best goalies all-time include a couple of draft picks (Andy Moog, Grant Fuhr) and some astute trades (Bill Ranford, Curtis Joseph, Cam Talbot) over the years.
Currently, the depth chart shows Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry and Matt Tomkins as the elder statesmen; Devon Levi and Connor Ungar as the ‘time is now” mid-20’s group; and prospects Samuel Jonsson, Nathan Day and now Eemil Vinni.
Does this make sense? Yes. The Oilers have their goaltending secure for this season, with Andersen, Jarry and Levi. The future belongs to one or more of Levi, Jonsson and Ungar. However, Vinni, Ungar or other can change the story line in a heartbeat.
When I was young, I tracked down every prospect belonging to the Montreal Canadiens. In 1970-71, the team boasted Rogie Vachon, Phil Myre and late recall Ken Dryden, who ruined my childhood. The AHL Voyageurs included Dryden, Wayne Thomas. Ray Martyniuk and Lyle Carter. Michel Plasse played in the CPHL, plus they owned the rights to guys like Glenn Resch who was playing that season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Absolute monster of a system, and frankly the team would have been fine with any number of the names listed (although Dryden was clearly a cut above).
The Oilers don’t have that, but Stan Bowman is building a pipeline. I believe the Levi-Jonsson-Ungar portion of that pipeline represents real growth by management. A man needs a plan. Levi, Jonsson and Ungar came to the organization by different means, but all three have a chance to impact the team in a positive way. Goaltending is too important to team success to half-ass it. Well done to the organization in this area.
On the Lowdown today, Steve Lansky will be my guest and we’ll talk about the CFL, the Jays, and gearing up for hockey season. Noon to 2pm, Sports 1440 and You Tube.
Should Edmonton Oilers fans prepare for another slow start? Potential pitfalls to watch
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7511140/2026/08/14/edmonton-oilers-slow-start-babcock-nugent-hopkins/
Several seasons back you referred to the Oilers as the old farm Fargo truck that needed to be dug out of the weeds, maybe some accelerant sprayed into the carburetor to get things going. My counter was an English sports car from the ‘60s: lots of tinkering required before she (these were always female) delivered her thrills.
I won’t argue with any of your points in the article. But how about this?
Many have mentioned rest (and not having the hangover of playoff disappointment) as reason for a strong start for this team. I’m also wondering if the shortened preseason plays to the Oilers favour? The team has, in recent years, treated October as an extension of training camp. Now, all teams will be doing the same, to some extent. This may level the playing field.
Meh. The Oilers have a new coach who hasn’t been an NHL coach in a regular season game for a decade. Maybe they enter slowly because they want to ease the all-time greats into the season, but I don’t think that’s it. The Oilers are always pissing around with the last two defensemen or some such.
The real concern, for me, is Babcock takes too long to figure out Nuge isn’t a tough match center and convinces himself moar big is more important than moving the puck. This team should win the division. If it doesn’t, early malaise will be a contributing factor.
I’m thinking one of two things happens:
Either Babcock is locked in from the word go, and things work, or he very quickly finds he won’t be able to deliver and hands the reigns to DJ Smith.
Getting stuck in the ditch would logically read as unlikely. Doesn’t mean it is impossible, but still, the fact they have a built in safety valve is somewhat comforting.
I would think Babcock has a huge chip on his shoulder. Mike has publicly been eating shit sandwiches without a reply the last 5 years. His reputation and legacy thrown in the gutter by a spicy Chatty Cathy 3rd pairing D-man Mike Commodore. I believe our top half is there already if Mike can get the lower half of our gang playing us against the world mentality will win the Cup this year on Florida home ice.
To be clear, it was Mike Babcock’s actions that put his reputation in tatters, not the people talking about the bullying. This code of silence claptrap is beyond outdated. Try harder.
That probably isn’t his perspective, though. So having that mentality about it is entirely possible.
If that’s his perspective, then he’s learned nothing from the behaviour that got him drummed out of the league.
Could it be possible that the whole thing is blown out of proportion?
I’ve never liked Babcock or Holland way too arrogant for me. It would be different story if I was a Red Wing fan. Every player that gets cut has a sob story. You me sit back and think we know what’s going on. The NHL is a multi million dollar industry one coach can fuk you over boo boo welcome to life. Do you hear one Oiler playing slandering Sather and his techniques. Not likely these players follow a code as borderline 3rd pairing D-man didn’t get the memo. The one thing that pissed a lot people off was the Modano scratch on the 1500 game club. That was straight up I’m the boss asshole decision that I’m sure Babcock regrets.
Garbage take. Mike Commodore, pride of Ft. Sask is a beauty, and it was MB all by his lonesome self that destroyed his reputation.
Babcock has run many an NHL training camp.
Babcock has been in the office daily this summer studying what has and has not worked in the league the last few years in order to implement his structure and I presume has watched plenty of Nuge (and the rest of the team) and has coached against him enough times to know what Nuge is and isn’t.
I am fully expecting a reseted (physically and mentally), re-set, re-focussed group, with a renewed respect for the regular season and a seeming new acknowledgement of what type of commitment is required in order to get through a grind of an 84 game regular season and two month playoff run in order to win Stanely will hit the ground running.
9-2-1, for example, not 2-9-1.
Thankfully the roster is 95% set (and perhaps 100% in the minds of Babcock and Bowman. Subject to injury, the 3 goalies are set, the 7D are set and 10 forwards are set (with Jones/Joseph/Janmark/Samanski/Howard up for 3 spots). I presume that Janmark starts on IR, Joseph is close to locked so one other, likely Jones or Samanski needs another injury to sae a job).
That is key because there is no time for tryouts at camp, even if we weren’t down to 4 exhibition games. Babcock will set his lineup early as the vets only play 2 exhibition games and he needs to get this team in their lines/combos/pairing and implementing all the structural and system changes they are making and that is likely ALOT – we know they are going to pressure in all zones but the coaches are making systematic changes in all zone and pretty much all games states (excluding, perhaps, PP1).
This will be an organized camp with targeted skates and its going to be awesome.
20 roster spots / 23 roster spots = 87%
There will be 1 or 2 surprises for opening night always is with a new coach. There’s always 1 or 2 injuries especially fighting for a job in a condensed preseason. I think Godot is on to something with Hutson. If Howard is too flashy for Babcock Stan needs to cut bait on Howard he will have value depending on injuries to top 6 forwards league wide. Stan can still parlay O’Reilly into a not so nice sandpaper asshole that can score on occasion. Wish we had that Schaefer kid that pick is starting to look golden.
Why do you hate Howard so much – been trying to get him traded all off-season.
Instead of Ekholm? O’Reilly into sandpaper? He’s gone. Do you have a time machine?
Connecting the dots, I wonder if you’ve RECCE’d much? Not in a blind panic or anything like that, but with your armour on, when you weren’t horsin’ around? Yeah?
Yes, that’s most of the team, right?
I would also suggest that Joseph is all but a lock for one leaving two of Janmark/Jones/Howard/Samanski. Sounding like Janmark will be on IR so, really the are down to one cut.
Like a boss (or a vet in the context of this blog).
Hockey Night in Canada- Punjabi
Thank you for 18 wonderful years.
https://x.com/hkynightpunjabi/status/2088294619448815699?s=61
Peter Menzies
@Pagmenzies
Man, Rogers. So much for introducing hockey to immigrant communities. Although I get the feeling that unless we live in the GTA and cheer for the Leafs and Blue Jays, we’re all foreigners in Rogers’ eyes.
Tara Slone
@TaraSlone
This is a terribly disappointing and infuriating decision. Some things HAVE to be about more than money.
If you want to make money have Cricket Night in Canada.
We’ve improved our functional toughness with Bowman bringing in 3 players that he’s familiar with in Dickinsen-Murphy-Dach. I think Frederic was totally miscast last year. What’s Kostin up to these days give him a PTO. I’m glad we’re not in the Panthers Division that’s a team with 5-6 time bombs that will do as they please unless coaches and players stand up to them.
One 20 year old drafted goalie signs a pro contract is sent to the ECHL to learn his way to the AHL and then earn his way to the NHL. Over the next 5 years he makes about $80,000/year and has no control over who is his coach and has limited control over his career. If he doesn’t make it he returns home to sell cars.
Another 20 year old goalie signs with a D1 school of his choice. He keeps full control of his options, switch schools or stays where he started or turns pro, If he stays the full four years he picks his pro team. While he is school NIL money can be $80,000/year and he gets a degree. If he doesn’t make he returns home and is an Investment Banker.
Why would parents send their son to an NHL team’s system. The ECHL/AHL will be a finishing school for player that need 25 games in the very near future.
That particular player likely makes all but $0 NIL and would likely get a near $100K signing bonus (actual $102,500) for each year.
Jeff Skinner off to play for EHC Biel in the Swiss league.
Good on him, I bet he has a super fun year – solid hockey, great location, easy travel, etc., etc.
Posted almost 2 hours ago.
Half the forum has chosen not to see your posts.
🔥
Scooped!
Good job, Jimmy Olsen!
my home town team :)… and he will play with projected 2027 1st round pick Jonah Neuenschwander
Would love to see Tomkins moved out, still a bit peeved how Chaulk gave him all the playoff starts. No point to add developmental goalies unless you give them the ice time to develop.
I wonder if this is Bowman putting pressure on parts of the organization Jackson has more control over.
Is there anything currently prohibiting an NHL squad from having deals with multiple AHL clubs?
I suppose fully owning 2 would be considered a conflict because there aren’t multiple leagues like MLB’s minor system – but I’d like to see hockey move in that direction. It is easily the best development system in NA sports. And get rid of that insane contract limit that helps neither the players nor the teams. One of the dumbest things ever added to the CBA.
“College” football of course being the scammiest and worst – despite being a very successful spectator sport and business.
Tulsky (go figure) has found a work around for this.
He drafts scads, two dozen in the system, of Russians and has them marinate in the KHL and only signs and brings them over when they’re ready to contribute in the NHL or AHL.
Can NHL teams buy foreign squads? I’d approve of that as well.
I can’t imagine why not.
I wind up asking because the amount of purely logical things the CBA doesn’t let you do has gotten crazy and shows no signs of improvement.
With so many, Swedish, Finnish and Czechs drafted and playing in Sweden, it might be worth exploring buying a team in the SHL.
With more control over development, it could provide a competitive advantage.
Also, a conversation like this: We’d like to draft/sign you…here is the range of options in our development system for a player like yourself compared to what other teams can offer you. And they all follow our model, learn our systems, have access to our staff and expertise and operate at our first class standard. We can give you more options and a broader experience that anyone else. Sound interesting?
That should be an approach worth taking.
Yep.
Yeah, especially for young Europeans who may have concerns about playing so far from home, learning a different language, etc. And owning a team means you can have more input on how the prospects are developed/used.
The more I learn about how Euro soccer is done, the more I think that NA teams are missing out on a great way to develop players. And if some NHL owners were to view the SHL, Czech, DEL, etc teams as investment opportunities, then they are getting in while values are low and influence can be at its strongest.
This is a genuinely interesting idea. I wonder if teams or thinkers around the game have already considered it.
Norris family tried in 1973-74 with the London Lions.
https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0011211974.html
I’m not sure but, at one point, when the Oilers didn’t have their own AHL affiliate, they had a deal with another org – not quite the same but there have been arrangements.
Scott Howson was on with Stauff earlier this week, 20 of the 32 AHL teams are owned by their NHL club but, for all teams, all hockey decisions, including the hiring of the AHL coaches, etc., etc. are vested with the NHL affiliate even if they aren’t the owner.
In a very real way, there is no point to owning multiple AHL teams. NHL teams just don’t have enough prospects that are going to make the NHL and play 200+ games. Of Corey Pronman’s 2015-16 Top 10 prospects per team list (https://www.espn.in/nhl/story/_/id/13455692/top-nhl-prospects-package-2015-16) only 152 (5 per team) of the 300 players have passed the 200 Games played mark. Notably, there are 94 players that have played more than 500 games (3 per team). On the Oilers, they had 2 (McDavid & Nurse) and neither played significant time in the AHL.
Having 20 spots on an AHL roster is plenty enough for the 5-10 or so players that will get into future NHL games outside of goalies. The issue there isn’t really resolved by doubling the number of AHL teams as the 30 ECHL teams already solved this issue while also giving an extra tier (AA vs AAA) for teams to develop Goalies. Or loan them to Europe, or the KHL. More AHL teams won’t really help anyone.
I’m betting that the AHL-ECHL model is failing to produce what a more fulsome approach could. Development is a real thing. Cultivating and growing players is a real thing.
The MLB model has a lot more quantity and levels to it. We also have all seen players playing in Europe who can and should be knocking on the NHL’s door, one phone call away.
The AHL model is under severe threat from the NCAA as many of the highest top drafted prospects opt to join American college teams.
As that trend accelerates, the level of play in the AHL will decline.
smart teams should explore alternatives.
19 of the players drafted in the 1st round of the 2026 draft have committed to NCAA teams.
The biggest exception being #2 pick Ivan Stenberg who has signed with San Jose and is expected to make the team.
And another 16 from the second round.
The CHL and AHL will soon be thin gruel.
Houston we finally have above average goaltending on the big club. We also have a nice batch brewing in the system. I’m positive Bowman was suckered in last year by the players believe in Skinner-Pickard. Bowman needed to make the overhaul last summer. Unlike Holland Stan has always had above average goalies over the years and he wasn’t shy to make changes in Chicago. From Khababulin to Huet-Niemi-Crawford-Turco-Emery-Hutton-Raata-Darling-Fosbury-Glass-Ward-Deli-Lehner. Crawford who was very underrated was the man most of the time but Bowman always had an above average back-up and 3rd stringers. Reverend It all starts from the net out. A healthy Jarry Babcock’s old goalie Andersen and the future Levi. Hell if Jarry knocks it out of the park a resigning may be in order. We may look back at the Levi trade with great pleasure in what we paid for this athletic future starter.
I think Bowman didn’t want to rock the boat too hard. They had gone to two finals, popular guys. He gave everyone a chance to prove themselves. Also have to wait for a move they can and want to make. Nurse was still on the books hogging a lot of cap
That’s exactly what happened and if I had to bet it was Pickard the boys really wanted to win for. Pickard was in the Huet-Niemi zone then asshole Hertl who was invisible decides to make his mark on the series by accidentally on purpose hurting Pickard money leg. We win the Cup with a healthy Pickard. K.K then throws him in net cold for the most important game of the series game 5 at home. Boom Pickard gets washed out of the league because that game 5 debacle. I’m sure he’s replayed game 5 a 100 times in his head if he stones the Panthers like he did at the end of game 4 his name would be talked about endlessly for years.
What did we learn last year? That when this team plays 200 feet, goalies look good-to-great. All of the five, last year. When the team doesn’t play 200 feet, the goalies look awful. All five of them, last year.
I hoping Jarry feels confident and healthy to start the season. I’m hoping Andersen is healthy. I’m hoping Levi is the team’s next goalie saviour.
Most of all, I’m hoping the Capt leads his team to play 200 ft for at least 60-70 games of the season. Until that happens, who’s in net is irrelevant.
If nothing else, that lesson was what got hammered home in 2025-26.
One of the reasons I’m not excited for this team this coming season is that a) I’m not so sure the lesson was learned, even with all the hammering, and b) the same characters (goalies, coaches) will likely be blamed if these lessons haven’t been learned and turned into changed behaviours, on and off the ice.
However, if the goalie (or coaching) parade makes you happy, enjoy!
Good post. I agree.
A healthy Jarry is still not an NHL caliber starter imo, resigning him is blasphemy never should of acquired him in the first place.
The knock on Jarry, from what I read/heard, was a) some history of injury; b) bad WIN% in playoffs. Otherwise, numbers were “NHL calibre starter” quality.
I didn’t like the trade, but heard that there were non-public numbers indicating Jarry was a better fit behind the loose play of the Oilers than Skinner. We saw him play well between arrival and injury, but that period (part of the Nov 26-Dec 25 blip) saw all five goalies looking good/great.
Health. Confidence (how he does that is the “voodoo” for not just goalies; we can include Frederic here too). Who knows? He may merit Reja’s optimism. I hope so.
I think Jarry was at 80% when you don’t trust your back-up your hooped you play a 80% Jarry and take your chances. We traded Skinner because of lateral movement ironically Jarry has an injury that lingers on and restricts his lateral movement. This year we have 3 goalies if one of them is at 80% we go with the 100% goalie. Bowman got caught with his pants down and was forced to go with so-so back-up at best goalie. This year that won’t happen and you’re going to see firsthand what above average goaltending can do for the moral of the players in front of him. You build a team from the Goalie out. Sather knew the importance and so does Bowman Senior as well as Junior
I really think a healthy Jarry will have a good season I think all our goalies will. I still start Andersen game one at home in the playoffs.
This is not based on reality.
Jarry was .909 in 14 games last season prior to being acquired by the Oilers.
He has a career .907 and just turned 31.
It is based in reality, just look at his playoffs stats.
When Pittsburg made the playoffs with Jarry as a tender, In his NHL career, Tristan Jarry has a playoff record of 2 wins and 7 losses in 9 games.He has a career playoff Goals Against Average (GAA) of 3.09 and a Save Percentage (SV%) of .891.
He’s played one series as a starter and got blown out.
He’s been a backup every other time.
Jarry was a bad trade imo, the season before last he was 3.12gaa with a 0.893% He’s a backup at best, that’s reality.
That’s why Bowman brought in Andersen-Levi if either hits it out of the ball park no one is going to give a shit about what a desperate trade Jarry was.
So, you’ve chosen discount the 320 plus regular season games to focus on 9 playoff games in order to propagate a narrative?
Jeff Skinner signs in the Swiss league.
https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/edmonton-oilers-jeff-skinner-swiss-league
I wonder if he sent K.K a bouquet of flowers too thank him on how he was used in Edmonton.
Skinner is still on Bffalo’s cap for another 4 seasons…$6 million hit in the upcoming season.
Yep skinner is making Monopoly money that is actually real cash.
I’m so glad you broke this story 2 hours before OP, it must have given you so much satisfaction to point out what a timely insider you must be.
I’ve said it before, but I legit feel for you, it feels like you actually might have an illness of some sort, I sincerely hope you can figure it out someday and come out on the other side healthier.
I’m just fine thanks.
For most of my life I have been unwilling to bow to group think.
You?
Move along, folks, nothing to see here. Please and thanks.
Nasty! It’s a hockey blog lighten up.
It will be really interesting to see what Vinni does this year (and where). He was a high pick for a goalie, second round, but injuries have been the main part of the story but, good thing is, it was all the same injury, the back. Apparently it took him a year after the back surgery to feel normal again.
Hopefully he plays lots of games this year.
— the influx of goalies reminds me of the jays
— they seemingly had a surplus of pitchers at the beginning of the season
— while some bad luck Jays would have had good visibility pre season into Trey not ready, Bieber needing to ramp up, Berrios, or max not ready etc.
— it’s quite possible that some of the goalie 3-some aren’t checking out 100% health in off season so they bring in contingency
This is pretty much it. Injury news during the off-season is rare and unreliable at best unless something major happens. NHL teams have an average of 5 goalies with an NHL contract so the 7 the Oilers have is unusually high but they’ve identified it as their #1 weakness so solving the problem using buckshot isn’t the worst option.
If the best players get playing time, the organization is going to be ok with the guys that aren’t playing as well playing some games in somebody else’s sandbox.
LT< You mention Ray Martyniuk but not Cal Hammond. Les Canadiens drafted both Bomber goalies and sadly neither one made the show.
Yaremchuk thinks Samuel Jonsson is going back to Europe. I don’t know if that’s just his feeling or is he has some actual intel.
I never thought of that before and I suppose it’s a legit possibility.
If he’s going back to play at the highest level, that’s good. He has already dominated a very good league over there, though.
The rumour I heard pointed to the need for more games. With three in the NHL and three in the AHL, tough to get enough games in to keep developing.
I suspect that, if he is planning to head back to Europe, that was part of the reasons they signed Vinni – not the other way around.
Could be wrong and I think its far from official that he’s heading back – Tyler didn’t expand on his reasoning – it was mostly just an aside, as opposed to a part of the conversation they were having.
I sure hope that there’s some sort of favourable agreement with a team in the SHL for Jonsson to play a lot, if this comes to fruition.
I am a big fan of Ungar but I was also really hoping Jonsson could step up and take a run in Bakersfield.
Wait and see what transpires.
That would be disappointing unless he’s getting a shot at starting spot on an SHL team. Was hoping for hum and Ungar at Bakersfield this season.
I’ve said the entire off-season that I think its highly unlikely they go with two rookie AHL goaltenders.
Oh that Dryden. Stole a second cup from my favourite Makita
He was an absolute robber.
He ruined many dreams that playoff run. He also made me a hockey fan. One of my heroes in life.
My favourite Ken Dryden tidbit is that he was actually drafted by the Bruins but he didn’t know that for years. Montreal traded for him two weeks after the draft and his agent just told him he was drafted by Montreal.
He’s also the first player drafted by any team to make the HHOF.
https://www.si.com/nhl/bruins/onsi/nhl-draft/how-boston-first-drafted-player-to-reach-nhl-ended-up-torturing-the-bruins
If only Phil had known that it was a Bruins draftee that was stealing his goals, and his Cup…
It’s crazy how the goalie equipment was half the size and wearing plastic to protect their face from cutting. Ken Dryden was quick as a cat for a bigger man he flat out stole that Cup. Ken Dryden was the definition of cool how many kid goalies tried copying his famous pose of leaning on his stick.
I am curious about what SV% would look like in 2026, if goalies wore 1971 pads and masks…
Stats? I’d rather shake the hand of a guy that’d be nutty enough to wear that sort of equipment in today’s game. With the new composite material that sticks are made of, every one can rifle off a rocket. Goalies would be hamburger!
Good point. Tenderized meat, for sure, if not ground.
Watch some video of Mike Palmateer. He would stone these punk kids and there $600 sticks.
They would go back to smaller goalies that had reflexes. Now it’s the tallest goalies that just stand there and hope the puck hits them. When’s the last time an Oiler goalie made an actual glove save or a Cujo robbery save. Now Its 6’5” goalies that look like huge marshmallows supposedly all in the name of safety. The best photo ever is the one of a rookie Patrick Roy next to a photo years later with the Av’s when there was no restrictions on equipment.
Tristan Jarry – great glove/windmill save against the Devils last season.
I think there’s a move now away from the 6ft 7 shot blocker goalies. (Koskinen) Jarry has far more side to side and up down ability than skinner.
Theres a few more goalies in the 6ft 4 under category starting to thrive. Wolf for example. Hopefully Levi.
Theres also a difference in the way net front players play. Less pure screen and more timing screens and arriving at the net timing plays.
I hope this Levi kid has the Wolf factor. The games I watched with Levi in net were fun games to watch he’s has the old school athleticism. I wonder why Buffalo gave up on him?
I did see an unverified tweet from a Fort Wayne local (allegedly) yesterday reporting Jonsson has told Komets fans he is returning to Sweden for the next season.
IF this is true, and represents progress by him stepping up to the SHL and not a lower tier league there, it nicely solves the current tender log jam.
NHL: 3 headed monster
Bako: Ungar, Tomkins
Ft. Wayne: Day, Vinni
I think the Three Headed Monster description is old and moldy.
Call it what it is; the smartest possible way to run your goaltenders.
A 3-man rotation just makes way more sense when you’re talking about the most important position on the team.
A rested goalie is the bestest goalie. It seems like a few days of rest makes a big difference in a goalie’s gameplay. Having a third goalie provides cover for injury. Was it Reja who suggested that for back-to-back games the goalie can arrive in town a day early and rest up for their game? This is really smart. There are so many reasons to like this.
Your three goalies need to understand the routine, but unless you have a prima donna who insists they’re ready to play every game, surely the players can also see the sense in this.
I expect a three goalie rotation becomes the norm and the NHL eventually (give it twenty to thirty years and the NHL will come around) allows an extra roster spot for a third goalie.
I wonder if the NHLPA has put any thought along these lines and maybe that’s something they’ll start pushing for in the next CBA(roster spot for a 3rd goalie)?
It just makes way to much sense. Get it drawn up so instead of requiring a full time EBUG, a team could emergency deploy their 3rd goalie in a game if required.
The NHLPA has generally shown a preference for their players playing more vs. less BUT they also prefer their members earning an NHL vs AHL salary so it could go either way. My guess would be that they don’t want players sitting out though as we’ve seen too many three goalie situations where either someone wants out or all three are unhappy.
I very much doubt it’s something that NHLPA wants to give up a concession of some sort to get so it would have to be a mutual NHL/NHLPA want for an adjustment to the roster limits if they feel that the EBUG system isn’t working.
I think the static cap ceiling that caused many teams to be running all sorts of skinnier than what 3 goalies on full rostee is -> simply made some GM’s look at roster constuction a bit more flexibly.
You just need enough cap space to make depth moves silly.
Next up: more swing hand style 7/8 th defensive defenseman who can handle 4th line winger north south check winger minutes
I hope Bowman goes with this idea. A laid back Andersen can have a night on the town with his wife sleep in then proceed to steal a game in Florida-Dallas-Columbus. I think we have 10-11 back-to-back games. Stealing 3-4 games over the long 84 game schedule could mean the difference between 1st in the Division or 3rd.