If Not Saros, Then Who?: Oilers’ Best Goalie Targets in a Non-Existent Market

If the Edmonton Oilers really are stepping away from the Juuse Saros idea — and every insider from Elliotte Friedman to Frank Seravalli insists they should — then the question becomes more complicated than “who’s the best goalie available?” Bob Stauffer recently said on his show, Oilers Now: “We have people saying, ‘You Oilers must trade for a goalie.’ I have the perception that there aren’t a lot of teams looking to offload anybody right now.”

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That makes things complicated. Who represents a realistic upgrade without crushing the cap, draining assets, or locking Edmonton into another expensive mistake?

The answer isn’t obvious. But there are names worth exploring.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

If any goalie screams “change-of-scenery gamble,” it’s Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. The Sabres are drowning again — 5-8-4 on the season and losers of four in a row –, carrying three goalies, and UPL’s development has stalled behind messy defensive play.

At 26 and with a $4.75M cap hit, he’s pricey for a gamble. Jacob D. Strozyk of The Hockey Writers notes: “His inconsistency in net, along with his classic inability to come up with the big save in big moments, has tormented them for a few seasons now, and it is time to move on, for both the player and the team’s sake.”

However, there was a time he was being viewed as the team’s starter and savoir in goal. He’s been less-than stellar this season with a .883 save percentage and a -0.51 GSAX60.

He’s got the size, the athleticism, and the kind of upside teams gamble on, especially since he’s buried in a roster logjam. The flip side is the inconsistency—his confidence comes and goes, and if Buffalo decides to move him, the price probably won’t be dirt cheap.

Cam Talbot

If Edmonton wants no drama, no long-term contract, and no asset drain, Cam Talbot is the Band-Aid option. At 38, he’s not a starter anymore, but he’s been in Edmonton before and far more predictable than some of the other options. In only two of his last seven seasons, he’s been under a .900 save percentage, and that counts this season. He can easily get above that with a couple of strong performances.

Detroit may move him because they already have John Gibson and top prospect Sebastian Cossa pushing for NHL starts. He’s affordable ($2.5 million for this season), dependable, and comes with no term-related headaches, but he’s not a long-term fix for anything. What you see is what you get—his ceiling tops out around league-average.

Arvid Soderblom

The Chicago Blackhawks have three goaltenders and they seem to have found their stater in Spencer Knight. That will make Arvid Soderblom and Laurent Brossoit potentially trade chips. Brossoit is injured, so this isn’t a trade the Blackhawks would willingly make today. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on.

At $2.75M through 2027, he’s affordable — and there’s real upside for a tandem.

He’s on the rise at 26 and already has familiarity with Bowman, but he’s still unproven as a full-time starter. If the GM wants someone he genuinely trusts, this is the guy who fits the bill.

If the Oilers aren’t chasing Saros — and shouldn’t — their best path is betting on value, not star power. None of these names are perfect, but that’s the reality of the NHL goalie market in 2025.

Edmonton doesn’t need a superstar. They just need someone who’s better than what they’ve got, for a price they can afford. TSN’s Pierre LeBrun asked, “Like, who are you trading for?… I’m not against the idea, but who’s available that’s a tangible upgrade? I mean, I’m all for it, but as I like to say when people say that, ‘Who is that guy? Tell me.’”

Jonathan Quick

He’s old, he’s slower, and he’s inconsistent. That said, he’s inexpensive ($1.55M), he’s having a good season on a bad team (1.26 GAA and a .950 SV%), and he might be looking to make one final run. If Jonathan Quick would be open to a trade and the New York Rangers are thinking this season is a wash, perhaps there’s a deal there to be made.

Caprice St. Pierre of Oilers Nation recently said it would cost the Oilers Jake Walman. Everyone should know that’s not true. That said, it will cost something and the price might go down as the season rolls along if the Rangers fall out of playoff contention. They’ve won two in a row and could bounce back, but time will tell as there are several questions within that organization and few answers.

Next: Oilers Make 2 Key Roster Moves Ahead of Hyman’s Return