Analyst Names Lateral or Upgrade Goalie Trades Oilers Could Make

Jamie McLennan believes there’s still time in the season for the Edmonton Oilers to turn things around. He’s not panicking and thinks the tradition of the team picking things up after Christmas is still likely, and that the Oilers will make the playoffs.

That said, McLennan wasn’t sold on the Oilers standing pat with their current roster.

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He suggested the elephant in the room was the team’s goaltending. McLennan appeared on the Barn Burner podcast and said he believes the Oilers simply need a change. He floated three names who would represent lateral or true upgrades: Jordan Binnington, Juuse Saros, and Elvis Merzļikins.

Calling Binnington and Saros upgrades over what the team has in Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Binnington was labeled the ultimate competitor, and with the way things have gone in St. Louis, he didn’t rule out a scenario where the Blues might consider a move.

Saros was called “elite on a junk team”. The Predators have not been good, and that’s impacted Saros’ numbers, which might be one of the reasons some insiders don’t see him as the solution. The downside of Saros is his contract, which runs through 2033 at $7.74 million. That’s not an issue if his numbers bounce back– which McLennan seems to think will happen on a better team — but there’s some risk there.

Merzlikins was labeled a lateral move. He was called a “strange” goaltender, but a solid one. Jet Greaves is pushing Merzlikins out of his spot as a starter, so a fresh start elsewhere might be best.

Do The Oilers Have to Make a Change In Net?

All would be difficult gets, but Edmonton may soon have no choice. The Oilers are not playing well. There’s still time to turn things around, and much of what’s going on with this team has more to do with their energy level and motivation than the team not being good. Players aren’t playing up to their potential, and the goalies are being held out to dry.

At the same time, Pickard hasn’t been the same goaltender he was last season and Skinner has been better, but there are still doubts about his potential to backstop Edmonton at the most important time of the season.

Next: Oilers Make Curious Line Change as Injuries Mount and Effort Wavers