Simply in the future after falling out of the Western Convention Ultimate to the Colorado Avalanche, veteran Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith wasn’t in a position to mention whether or not or now not he’d be again in motion subsequent season.
“It is too early to inform,” the netminder stated on Tuesday, whilst additionally dispelling fresh rumours that he used to be taking into account retirement.
“To appear forward now after you simply get ousted of the Convention Finals, it is arduous to look the place you might be gonna be within the subsequent two days, let by myself 4 months from now.”
Smith, who has 365 days left on his contract at a $2.2-million cap hit, began all 16 video games of the Oilers’ run in the course of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, posting 8 wins, six losses and a .913 save share.
The 40-year-old has performed 686 regular-season video games throughout 16 NHL seasons — the ultimate 3 of that have been with the Oilers. The Kingston, Ont., local’s best possible season used to be in 2011-12, when he produced a .930 save share for the then-Phoenix Coyotes ahead of main the staff to the Western Convention Ultimate.
Getting into the low season, Oilers backup Mikko Koskinen is an unrestricted loose agent after his three-year, $13.5 million deal signed in 2019 got here to an finish with Monday’s loss.
3rd-stringer and AHL starter Stuart Skinner, in the meantime, is signed via subsequent season at a $750,000 cap hit and would require waivers. In 13 NHL video games this season, the 23-year-old recorded a .913 save share.
