Oilers’ Eternal Goaltending Saga — And Why Devon Levi Might Finally Be The Answer

The Edmonton Oilers and consistent, reliable goaltending have been enemies dating back to Dwayne Roloson’s heroic 2006 Stanley Cup run. Every few years, the Oilers stumble into stretches where a goalie performs admirably—sometimes even exceptionally—but the stability never lasts. It’s been a revolving door of “almost,” “good for a bit,” and “why did we move on so fast?”

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The Talbot and Smith Years

Cam Talbot was legitimately excellent in 2015‑16, and in 2016‑17 he delivered one of the most criminally underrated goaltending seasons in modern NHL history. Talbot played an absurd 73 of 82 games, posting a 2.39 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Those numbers—and that workload—are unheard of today. If the Oilers had received that level of goaltending at any point in the last three seasons, they’d be chasing a four‑peat right now.

But Talbot’s play eventually dipped. Fatigue set in. Life changed—his wife gave birth to twins, sleep disappeared, pressure mounted—and the Oilers moved on far too quickly.

Mike Smith, meanwhile, gave the Oilers some genuinely great hockey. He played far fewer games (99 total over three seasons), but his 2020‑21 season was elite: 2.31 GAA, .923 save percentage. He followed it up with another strong year in 2021‑22 before age and injuries forced him into retirement.

Moving On Too Fast

The Oilers’ biggest problem—beyond the actual goaltending—is the pressure cooker surrounding it. Fans are ravenous. Expectations are sky‑high. And the organization has a habit of bailing early.

Devan Dubnyk is the perfect example. His numbers weren’t even bad when the Oilers cut ties. He became a Vezina finalist the very next season and put up outstanding numbers for years.

Mikko Koskinen? He was roasted nonstop by media and fans, yet his 2019‑20 numbers (2.75 GAA, .917 SV%) are exactly the kind of goaltending Oilers fans would kill for right now.

Then came Stuart Skinner. Thrust into the starter’s role far too early because Jack Campbell imploded, Skinner performed admirably—an All‑Star as a rookie with a 2.73 GAA and .914 SV% in 50 games. But his numbers declined, his playoff performances cratered at crucial moments, and the Oilers eventually traded him for Tristan Jarry. So far, that hasn’t worked out either.

The Oilers’ goaltending saga continues.

New Blood: Devon Levi

On July 1st, 2026, the Oilers traded a third‑round pick to Buffalo for Devon Levi, a move that could quietly become one of the best trades they’ve made in years. Buffalo was drowning in goalies and decided Levi was the odd man out—despite being one of the top young goalies in the sport.

Levi, a 7th‑round pick in 2020, has spent his entire career proving people wrong. At 6’0″, 192 pounds, he’s considered “small” by NHL standards, but everywhere he’s gone, he’s excelled.

• 2019 World Junior A Challenge: Tournament MVP
• 2019‑20 CJHL season: Player of the Year, MVP, CCHL MVP
• 2021 World Juniors: Best goaltender, 6‑1 record, 0.75 GAA, .964 SV% (Canadian record), three shutouts (tied for tournament record)
• Northeastern University: Back‑to‑back Mike Richter Awards awarded to the best college goalie (first two‑time winner ever), Hockey East Player of the Year, two‑time top‑10 Hobey Baker finalist (only the 4th goalie all time ever to do so twice)

After college, Levi jumped straight into the NHL—a brutal transition for any goalie—and held his own. He split time between Buffalo and Rochester over the next two seasons, struggling in the NHL but dominating the AHL. His underlying numbers, especially GSAA, were among the best in the league.

Buffalo eventually buried him in the AHL for an entire season simply because they had too many goalies. Levi responded by playing the most games of his career (52), posting decent numbers, and shining in the playoffs.

Can Levi Be the Answer?

The biggest knock on Levi is his size. Small goalies are rare, and only a few—Juuse Saros, Dustin Wolf—have broken through. But Levi’s athleticism is elite. Sometimes he moves too much, but he’s an exceptional skater and technician. If he can tighten up his crease movement, he has the tools to be a fantastic NHL starter.

The Oilers have been searching for a young goalie who can anchor the net for a decade. Levi might be that guy. They’ve insulated him properly with Frederik Andersen as the veteran mentor and Tristan Jarry looking for a bounce‑back season.

Levi has the talent, the pedigree, the accolades, and—most importantly—the fire. Buffalo moved on, and he’s clearly motivated:

“I feel like I’ve done my time (in the AHL), experienced what I need to. I’ve had tremendous growth the past season and a half. Being held back really lit the fire inside. If I’m going to be one of the best goalies in the league, it’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time. I feel like I definitely did need the games in the AHL, I spent a year and a half getting NHL game-ready. I feel more ready than I’ve ever been. I just want to play”

And when asked about Edmonton’s three‑goalie setup?

“I don’t care. My job is to keep the puck out of the net when I’m playing and called upon.”

That’s exactly what the Oilers have been begging for: a goalie who simply keeps the puck out of the net when called upon.

The Gamble

The Oilers’ goaltending void has felt like a black hole for nearly two decades. Levi will try to be the answer—finally—and maybe anchor the crease for the next decade. With veteran Frederik Andersen beside him and Tristan Jarry looking for a bounce‑back season, Levi will be insulated properly, able to learn without being thrown into the fire as “the guy” on Day 1.

For a third‑round pick, it’s a gamble the Oilers absolutely had to take.

Next: The Misread Trade: Oilers Return for Nurse Better Than Advertised