The Oilers Didn’t Plan for Connor Ungar — Now They Have To

For years, the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending strategy has been reactive. Don’t spend big bucks, patch the problem. When possible, add insurance. The game plan over the past couple of seasons was to ride two solid, but inconsistent goaltenders into the playoffs, hoping that the elite offense and depth on defense would be enough.

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In many ways, the Oilers chose to make development a secondary concern. That’s somewhat understandable given their status as a Stanley Cup contender who had to go all in every season, especially at the deadline. That’s why it’s such a blessing — and kind of a surprise — that the Oilers have stumbled upon a potential game-changer in Connor Ungar.

Ungar’s sudden emergence will potentially flip the Oilers goaltending approach on its head — forcing the organization into uncomfortable decisions sooner than expected.

The Oilers Will Have to Reevaluate their Summer Plans

The Oilers entered this season believing their path was relatively clear. The plan was to either make Stuart Skinner a 1A or trade him. They chose the latter and went with Tristan Jarry, who was brought in to stabilize the NHL crease. The Oilers then took a chance on Connor Ingram, who was viewed as depth with upside. Calvin Pickard remained the safety net.

Behind them, the organization wasn’t sure what they had, and two of the three options they did keep were going to see their contracts expire at the end of the season.

This summer will bring with it some tough decisions. Do the Oilers even consider keeping anyone beyond Jarry?

A Crowded Crease Is Manageable — Until It Isn’t

With Jarry healthy again, the Oilers now carry three NHL goaltenders. Under normal circumstances, that’s manageable in the short term. After this season, it’s not an option.

The Oilers have to come to terms on the fact that either Pickard or Ingram won’t be here next season as creating a logjam on the Oilers’ roster, or in Bakersfield makes no long-term sense. And, every decision Edmonton makes to keep another body around directly impacts Ungar.

In previous seasons, Edmonton may have prioritized NHL insurance over AHL opportunity. In 2026-27, that approach risks stalling the development of a goalie who has done nothing but outperform expectations at every stop.

Ungar isn’t just a normal prospect. The way he’s been playing, one could make the argument he’d be good to go in a pinch this season.

Ungar Has Forced His Way Into the Conversation

Ungar’s rise has been anything but conventional. Undrafted, but a gamer, he has been shuffled between three ECHL teams. He could have easily been lost in the shuffle. Instead, he dominated.

Across those brief ECHL stints, Ungar posted eye-popping numbers — a goals-against average under 1.70 and a save percentage north of .943. When he finally received his AHL call-up, he somehow got better. Five wins. A 1.38 GAA. A .953 save percentage.

It’s a small size, but it’s an impressive one. It’s a great problem for the Oilers to have, but there’s a window where Edmonton has to game plan for his continued success. The Oilers have a history of dropping the ball on prospects that have earned the right to take on a bigger role. Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway are the biggest that come to mind in the past couple of years. Those two mistakes have hurt Edmonton. The Oilers can’t afford a repeat mess up at their most important and up-in-the-air position.

The Pickard Question Is No Longer Optional

Calvin Pickard has been a positive presence and a reliable pro. But Ungar’s development has sealed Pickard’s fate. Keeping the beloved veteran past this season means limiting starts for Ungar, who needs consistent AHL action and some NHL starts to see what he really is.

For the first time in years, the Oilers aren’t desperate for goaltending bodies. They’re deciding how to protect the right ones. Ungar has made himself part of the future conversation — not because of pedigree, but because of results.

The Oilers don’t need to rush Ungar into the NHL. But they do need to clear a path for him. That likely means a trade involving Pickard, rather than risking waivers or stunting development.

Ungar is not a short-term answer. But he’s earned the opportunity to show he can be a long-term one.

Next: Which Forwards are Oilers Targeting on Teams Not Ready to Sell?