The Edmonton Oilers, winners of five Stanley Cups since entering the NHL in 1979, haven’t hoisted the trophy since 1990. Until recently, they had only managed one return trip to the Finals. However, their back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in the last two seasons signaled a potential resurgence for the franchise, originally founded in the WHA in 1972.
Despite the progress, the Oilers fell short both times, losing consecutive Finals to the Florida Panthers. The key issue in their most recent defeat, which concluded on June 17, was clear: goaltending.
Skinner Falls Short Under Pressure
Stuart Skinner, Edmonton’s 26-year-old starting goalie, struggled in the Finals, allowing 19 goals and posting a save percentage of just .861 — significantly below his regular season average and career mark of .906. His inconsistent play forced head coach Kris Knoblauch to pull him in favor of backup Calvin Pickard on more than one occasion.
These benchings were particularly tough for Skinner, a hometown product and former third-round pick in 2017, who had dreamed of backstopping the Oilers since childhood.
With their championship window still open, the Oilers now face a major question: how to handle the goaltending situation moving forward.
General Manager Sam Bowman acknowledged the need for improvement in net during his postseason press conference, while also noting the difficulty of acquiring top-tier goalies. “You can’t just walk down the street and pick one up,” he remarked.
Samsonov Seen as Ideal Low-Risk Option
In a recent column, The Hockey News’ Caleb Kerney suggested a possible solution: Ilya Samsonov. The 28-year-old Russian netminder just became a free agent after finishing a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Kerney argued that Samsonov, who has experience in pressure-heavy markets and in goalie tandems, could serve as a competitive partner for Skinner — creating a “1A/1B” scenario that might bring out the best in both.
He outlined four reasons why Samsonov would be a smart, cost-effective addition to the roster, especially for a team eager to return to the Finals and finally reclaim the Cup.
