Insiders speculate Oilers and Blues could be blockbusters – Hockey Writer – Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers fans have been calling for a goaltending change for some time now, and the online backlash against Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard continues as they try to make another deep playoff run. While Skinner has been great of late, his consistency remains a major concern, with some fans worried that he may not be the man to lead the team to its first Stanley Cup since 1990.
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A recent article by Nick Kypreos revealed that there is some speculation linking the Oilers to Jordan Binnington. He also mentioned that any potential deal could cause Skinner to renege.
“Binnington has one season left on his contract and it doesn’t feel like he will be part of any restructure the Blues might undergo,” Kepreos said. He continued: “The strongest speculation is linking Binnington to Edmonton, with the Oilers also considering the possibility of bringing in a defender from St. Louis at the same time. This potential trade is likely to be built around Stuart Skinner returning to St. Louis to join forces with Hofer.”
Kepreos did mention Justin Faulk as someone the Blues might consider moving, but another player who has come up in trade talks before is Colton Pareko. Regardless, he didn’t mention who the Oilers might try to add to their blue line, but the focus seems to be on the possibility of a major swap between the two teams.
Binnington has struggled to come out of the gate as he currently ranks third in the entire league in goals saved (GSAX) at -6.0, behind only Linus Ullmark and Samuel Montembeault. In 15 games this season, he has a goals against average (GAA) of 3.13 and a save percentage (SV%) of 0.880, winning five of those games.
Skinner had an impressive 2.9 GSAX, 3.00 GAA, and 0.885 SV% in 17 games, winning 8 of those games and adding a shutout.
Some believe Skinner will be a better performer than Binnington at the start of the 2025-26 season, but after seeing how Binnington performed in key moments in the Four Nations showdown last season, it’s hard to ignore how he has improved his game in high-pressure situations and appears to be more clinical than both Skinner and Pickard.
Cap space is a major issue
Binnington has a salary cap hit of $6 million that extends through the 2026-27 season, and the Oilers don’t have the flexibility to accept his full contract. They have the ability to move Skinner, Brett Kulak and Matthias Janmark, but if they want to add a defender, the trade will become more difficult.
There are always ways to make money work, but if it is no longer possible to double-reserve a deal, such a move becomes more difficult to achieve.
When it comes down to it, it looks like the Oilers are finally going to pull the trigger and bring in a goaltender. Binnington won a Stanley Cup and is expected to be a starter on Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics and has proven he can be a dependable starter on a contender.
The deal does not appear to be close to completion, but it is worth noting that according to reliable sources, the two parties have been contacted.
Be sure to stay tuned as the 2025-26 season progresses hockey writer Be your source for news, updates and more from the NHL and hockey world.
