Oilers Goaltenders Struggle in NHL’s Recent Tandem Rankings

The goaltending situation for the Edmonton Oilers has taken a turn for the worse, as a recent poll from The Athletic reveals they have been ranked 31st out of 32 NHL teams. While it may not come as a shock, the severity of the ranking is alarming for a team that has playoff aspirations.

The article, which assessed goalie tandems across the league, took into account various factors, including the recent decline in league-wide save percentages. This season, the average save percentage has dropped to .896, marking the lowest level in 33 years, a trend attributed to both evolving shot tracking and increasingly skilled NHL shooters.

Despite the overall decline in save percentages across the league, the Oilers have not benefitted. As Jesse Granger notes, “The Oilers have started four different goalies this season, and none have a save percentage north of .900 or positive goals saved above expected.” This troubling statistic highlights the struggles not only of the goaltenders but also the defensive play in front of them.

The Oilers’ goaltending carousel includes Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, Tristan Jarry, and Connor Ingram. Skinner was traded away as the Oilers doubted his ability to withstand the rigors of a playoff run. Pickard’s early-season struggles led to him being placed on waivers, while Jarry was acquired in the Skinner trade. Ingram was brought in after the Utah Mammoth decided to part ways due to personal health issues.

Granger pointed out that Jarry has only managed to achieve a save percentage of .900 or better in four of his 14 starts since joining Edmonton, a stark contrast to his performance with the Penguins, where he accomplished this feat eight times in 14 starts. The Oilers’ defensive woes have compounded these issues, prompting the team to bring in players like Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson to bolster the blue line. Former assistant coach Paul Coffey has also returned to help address these concerns.

As it stands, the trade that sent Skinner to Pittsburgh—where he has been performing well—has not yet proven beneficial for Edmonton, especially given that the Penguins currently hold the 18th spot in the tandem rankings. The Oilers find themselves in a precarious position, with questions lingering over their goaltending capabilities. Is this ranking of 31st truly reflective of their performance, or is it a harsh assessment compared to other teams like Vancouver or St. Louis, where goaltending has also faced challenges?

What remains clear is that if the Oilers do not see significant improvement in their goaltending, and if Jarry and Ingram cannot elevate their play, the dream of a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance could quickly fade.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.