Oilers Trying Everything to Fix Broken Goalie Spot
The Edmonton Oilers have added another name to what is becoming one of the NHL's most intriguing goaltending situations. The club signed Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $1 million contract, with performance bonuses that could push the value to $2.8 million. It's the kind of low-risk move that could end up looking really smart if Andersen stays healthy.
Andersen is a solid veteran goalie.
Andersen can be good. He proved that again during the postseason. That's always been the question with Andersen—not his ability, but his health. When he's on the ice, he's proven he can be an excellent NHL goalie. He's a Stanley Cup champion, has plenty of big-game experience, and knows how to handle the pressure. But injuries have followed him in recent years, so Edmonton isn't betting the farm here. Instead, it's giving itself another option.
And that's where things get interesting. Last season, the Oilers moved on from Stuart Skinner and brought in Tristan Jarry, but Jarry didn't pan out as hoped. They also brought in young Devon Levi, who many believe is ready to make a serious push for NHL playing time. Now Andersen joins the mix, and suddenly there are three goaltenders who could make a case for regular work.
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So who's the starter for the Oilers?
That's the question nobody can answer today. Maybe Jarry grabs the job and runs with it. Maybe Andersen reminds everyone just how good he can be when he's healthy. Or maybe Levi arrives at camp and makes it impossible for the Oilers to send him anywhere else. None of those outcomes would be a huge surprise. One interesting wrinkle is Andersen's history with new head coach Mike Babcock, dating back to their years together in Toronto. Could that give Andersen a slight edge?
The Oilers still have plenty of questions in goal. Rather than putting all their eggs in one basket, they've created real competition. Somebody is going to have to earn the net.
Training camp should be fascinating because every practice and every preseason game will matter for these three goaltenders. Edmonton has gone from wondering if it had enough options in goal to wondering which one is actually the best option. That's not a bad problem to have, and it'll be one of the more interesting storylines to follow when camp opens this fall.