Hockey Latest has no direct affiliation to the NHL or NHLPA
Oilers Analyst Gets Into Raging Debate With Former NHL Goaltender: "They Need to Find a Goalie"
Photo credit: Edit from Edmonton Sun
Oilers analyst Bob Stauffer got into a raging debate with former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton on a recent show, as the two went at it over the team's desperate need.
There was a raging debate that was brewing over the Edmonton Oilers' greatest need heading into the 2025 trade deadline: does Edmonton have a desire for an upgrade in their net from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard?
There is no consensus, but two of the prominent voices, Oilers Now's Bob Stauffer and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton, weighed in recently on 'The Kevin Karius Show' on Sports Radio 1440.
"Here's the thing. If you could get a (top NHL goalie) Shesterkin or Vasilevskiy or Sorokin and have a guaranteed upgrade on what the Oilers have, you would do it. I don't believe (Team Canada star) Jordan Binnington is available John Gibson's had a little bit of a bounce back this year. Can't stay healthy."
"I don't envision the orders trading for a goaltender. It could still happen. And part of it is, I'm not sure on the clarity of Evander Kane and the LTIR space."
- Bob Stauffer
"I don't envision the orders trading for a goaltender. It could still happen. And part of it is, I'm not sure on the clarity of Evander Kane and the LTIR space."
- Bob Stauffer
Hutton, who spent a decade in the NHL, took the opposite stance, insisting the Oilers need a new goalie. He expressed doubt that Pickard could win a playoff series and emphasized that Edmonton's overall defensive play must improve.
"I think something needs to change, right? And I've been a big backer of Calvin Picard. I think he's been serviceable. He's been, you know, I think he's been put in a tough situation, right?
Especially we look back at last season, getting thrown in the playoffs, and he's played well, and he earned that extension. But I think it's got to the point now where you need a guy who can carry the mail at this point.
You need a guy that can, you know, in case something happens with Skinner, the way he's played. And we've seen this for a few years now, what Skinner is.
The fact of the matter is he can be one of the best goalies in the league at times when he's on, and his numbers are great. But the inconsistency in his play is worrisome, and it's been worrisome now for a while."
"I think he's at a point now where the game is just too fast. It's passed him by. It worries me. The fact of the matter is I think they need to go out and they need to find a goalie."
- Carter Hutton
Especially we look back at last season, getting thrown in the playoffs, and he's played well, and he earned that extension. But I think it's got to the point now where you need a guy who can carry the mail at this point.
You need a guy that can, you know, in case something happens with Skinner, the way he's played. And we've seen this for a few years now, what Skinner is.
The fact of the matter is he can be one of the best goalies in the league at times when he's on, and his numbers are great. But the inconsistency in his play is worrisome, and it's been worrisome now for a while."
"I think he's at a point now where the game is just too fast. It's passed him by. It worries me. The fact of the matter is I think they need to go out and they need to find a goalie."
- Carter Hutton
Kris Knoblauch says the defence is giving up too many chances off the rush
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch jumped into the conversation and used a startling fact: Edmonton, since Feb. 1, is the worst team in the NHL at giving up Grade A chances off the rush, a frightening part of the team's game considering 45% of goals in the NHL are off that kind of play.
As the deadline timer runs out, the question is: does Edmonton need to invest in a goaltender or do they go the defenseman route in order to be a true playoff contender? We'll find out in about 24 hours.
| POLL | ||
MARS 6 | 336 ANSWERS Oilers Analyst Gets Into Raging Debate With Former NHL Goaltender: "They Need to Find a Goalie" Do the Oilers absolutely need to trade for a new goalie? | ||
| Yes | 266 | 79.2 % |
| No | 70 | 20.8 % |
| List of polls | ||