Fans and Media Sound Off as Rumors Link Jordan Binnington to Oilers

The goalie debate in Edmonton existed well before Nick Kypreos poured gasoline on the fire. According to his latest report, “The strongest speculation ties Jordan Binnington to Edmonton; the Oilers are also seeing if they can get a defenceman out of St. Louis at the same time. That potential deal would most likely be built around Stuart Skinner going back to St. Louis.” That nugget alone was enough to send Oilers fans, media, and analysts into a frenzy.

Then, as if the hockey gods were listening, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard both took the ice on Tuesday and posted terrible numbers in an 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.

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The chatter only intensified when TSN insiders Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun revisited reports that the Oilers had previously shown interest in Binnington. Dreger hinted that dealing with Blues GM Doug Armstrong is never simple, and acquiring a starting goalie at this point in the season is usually an “overpay or nothing” scenario.

LeBrun added that Edmonton faced a similar dilemma last year when they sniffed around upgrades before the trade deadline. John Gibson was the only real name available then, and there was no consensus he offered a true upgrade, so the Oilers stood still.

However, there are also analysts and fans pointing out that other teams (namely, Colorado) overhauled their goaltending midseason, and it worked. Sometimes, aggressive teams are rewarded for aggressive moves.

The Reaction To the Idea of the Oilers Acquiring Binnington

The reaction around Edmonton has been predictably split. Allan Mitchell of The Athletic warned, “Adding Binnington is a dangerous play… If Bowman is dealing for Binnington, he better be right. This isn’t the clear difference maker he’s looking for.” Others see the current situation as hopeless enough that taking a big swing is worth the gamble. One fan summed it up bluntly: “Binnington–Ingram sounds good to me… We’ve reached the definition of insanity with these two goalies. Get it done.”

Statistically, the move wouldn’t look like an upgrade on paper. As David Staples noted, Binnington’s .880 save percentage sits 55th among 67 NHL goalies, even below Skinner’s .885. Other fans argue that Binnington has a history of elevating his game in big moments, making him a potential buy-low candidate — especially if the Blues retain salary. If not for his performance at 4 Nations, Canada doesn’t win that tournament.

The Oilers Don’t Seem Ready to Make The Move

Following a report that the Oilers stood up for Calvin Pickard when speculation was Connor Ingram might get a callup, the leadership group also came to the defense of their goalies on Tuesday.

After the 8–3 loss to Dallas, Leon Draisaitl defended them: “What are they supposed to do? We’re giving up Grade-A look after Grade-A look.” Connor McDavid echoed the sentiment, saying goaltending is a team issue, not an individual one.

And as Zach Laing of Oilers Nation put it: “Goalies are voodoo.” With Edmonton spiraling and the clock ticking, that might be the truest statement of all. Whether Binnington is the answer — or just another wild swing — remains the question driving the debate.

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