Stan Bowman’s Quietest Mistake Is About to Blow Up Edmonton’s Goaltending Plan

Stan Bowman has done some genuinely strong work during his time with the Edmonton Oilers. He’s modernized parts of the roster, found value in overlooked players, and stabilized areas that had been weak for years. But he’s also made a few eyebrow‑raising decisions — the kind that linger long after the signing day glow fades. Josh Brown’s three‑year deal on July 1, 2024 remains one of those moves. Yes, it can be buried. Yes, it doesn’t hurt the NHL roster. But it was puzzling then, and it’s still puzzling now.

And then there’s the goaltending situation in Bakersfield — a decision that looked harmless in the moment but has now ballooned into a legitimate organizational headache.

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Matt Tomkins and the Two‑Year Problem

On July 1, 2025, Bowman signed veteran netminder Matt Tomkins to give the Condors a stable, experienced presence. On paper, it made sense. Tomkins is 32, he’s from Edmonton, and he’s a great story. He’s also a veteran who has only played six NHL games, posting a 3.33 GAA and .892 SV% back in 2023‑24. As an injury fallback option, he wasn’t ideal, and the signing didn’t inspire much confidence at the time.

To his credit, Tomkins played well in Bakersfield. In 42 games, he went 20‑13‑7 with a 2.98 GAA, .904 SV%, and four shutouts — the best of his career. The Condors weren’t exactly a defensive juggernaut, so those numbers actually reflect positively on him. But the issue was never Tomkins’ performance. It was the ripple effect.

Connor Ingram eventually arrived and leapfrogged Calvin Pickard into the NHL. Ungar played 13 AHL games and posted elite numbers (2.51 GAA, .923 SV%). Pickard got his games. Ingram got his games. Tomkins got his games. Ungar got fewer than he should have. And that’s where the concern began.

AHL numbers don’t always translate to NHL success — Ingram proved that by thriving in Edmonton despite poor AHL stats — but development time absolutely matters. And Tomkins’ presence limited it.

The Real Issue: Bowman Gave Him Two Years

The signing itself wasn’t the problem. The second year was.

Edmonton finally has real goaltending depth in the pipeline — the best they’ve had in years:

• Connor Ungar (24)
• Samuel Jonsson (22)
• Eemil Vinni (20) — newly signed and coming to North America
• Daniel Salonen (20)
• Nathaniel Day (21)

These goalies need games. They need structure. They need a clear development path. And Tomkins, through no fault of his own, is blocking it.

Depth Chart Crunch

In a perfect world, the AHL tandem this season would be Ungar and Jonsson — the two most mature prospects, both ready for heavier workloads. Jonsson was rumored to be heading back to the SHL, but Bob Stauffer on X shut that down:

“Regarding reports involving goaltending prospect Samuel Jonsson, all indicators are that he will be attending EDM’s Rookie Camp in September. Further to that he is expected to play in North America this season.”

Great news for the organization. Terrible news for the Tomkins contract.

With Vinni and Day likely anchoring the ECHL tandem and Salonen staying in Liiga, the development ladder is clear — except for the Tomkins roadblock. And with the Oilers already carrying three NHL goalies (Trista Jarry, Frederik Andersen, Devon Levi), there’s no upward mobility for Tomkins either.

Will This Cause Issues?

It already has.

Last season, Ungar was loaned to three different ECHL teams. He thrived everywhere he went, but bouncing around is not ideal for a goalie who’s ready for a full AHL workload. Jonsson didn’t come to North America to ride buses in the ECHL. Vinni needs structured development, not chaos. Day needs stability. The organization finally has a pipeline worth nurturing — and one unnecessary contract year is jamming the gears.

If Bowman can move Tomkins, great. A minor‑league trade, a future‑considerations swap, anything to clear the logjam. But if he can’t? Someone gets squeezed again, and that’s how development stalls.

The Bottom Line

Bowman didn’t make a catastrophic mistake — but he made an unnecessary one. The second year on Tomkins’ deal wasn’t needed then, and it looks even worse now. Edmonton’s goaltending depth is finally a strength, but only if those goalies actually play. And right now, the organization is stuck trying to solve a problem it didn’t need to create.

Next: The Missing Piece: Why Michael Bunting Might Be Exactly What the Oilers Need