EDMONTON — Evander Kane, Jesse Puljujarvi, Tyson Barrie, Mike Smith…
If you’re nonetheless not sure of what the Edmonton Oilers‘ greatest precedence is that this summer time, then you’re both: A, no longer paying shut sufficient consideration; or B, didn’t pay attention Ken Holland’s year-end press convention on Wednesday.
“Do you may have a No. 1 goaltender for subsequent season?” Holland used to be requested, level clean.
It used to be most likely the shortest solution he gave all day:
“No, I do not believe we now have a primary goalie. I don’t, no.”
Holland went directly to qualify that concept, however after the primary two sentences, the remainder, respectfully, is solely a phrase salad.
With a Ultimate 4 look underneath its collective belt, Holland’s staff is formally in that window the place — with the best tweaks and a bit of success — they may be able to be thought to be a valid Stanley Cup contender.
However are you able to say that a couple of staff that doesn’t have an certified, authorized No. 1 goalie? We’re no longer certain you’ll be able to.
So is going Holland’s summer time. After unsuccessfully chasing Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kuemper in summers previous, it’s no longer like he hasn’t been searching for a No. 1 for the reason that day he walked within the door right here in Edmonton.
However they don’t pay him $5 million in line with season for attempting arduous. Identical to we mentioned about his gamers, it’s time for effects.
That is a fully crucial factor at a crucial time right here in Edmonton. Mikko Koskinen’s outrageous contract has in spite of everything expired, younger Stuart Skinner is able to be an NHL backup, and Smith has three hundred and sixty five days left at $2.2 million, however may well be an LTIR candidate.
As of late, Holland has two backups underneath contract, however doesn’t have a No. 1.
That’s were given to modify.
“A primary goalie to me can play 55 to 60 video games. What number of are there within the league? Ten or 12 of the ones?” requested Holland. “I do not know if any of them are to be had — I have never labored the telephone. I have never met with Smitty but, I am not certain what he is considering…”
The media met with Smith on Tuesday, and we requested him if, at age 40, he can nonetheless a No. 1 goalie within the Nationwide Hockey League. He considered it for a second.
“I don’t know,” used to be his reaction.
Our reaction: He cannot.
We’ve noticed a couple of 40-year-old backups in our day, however by no means a reliable starter. Smith used to be harm for many of the season, an aspect of his age, and nursed every other damage during the playoffs, Holland mentioned.
Smith drained because the playoffs wore on, and a staff that wishes to determine get its targets towards down one day merely wishes higher goaltending to be a part of that adventure — complete prevent.
This staff gained’t win with no No. 1 goalie. Everyone knows that — Holland incorporated.
The place that goalie comes from alternatively, that’s the nice unknown.
“Do I desire a No. 1 goalie, a stud? Yeah. I feel 32 groups need that,” started Holland. “It is like NFL quarterbacks — there may be no longer 30 (reliable starters). It is a distinctive place, so there may be just a small quantity of the ones. And plenty of of the ones are homegrown. They are drafted. They are evolved.”
Igor Shesterkin. Andrei Vasilevskiy. Jake Oettinger. Juuse Saros. Tristan Jarry. Carter Hart. Carey Value. Thatcher Demko. Connor Hellebuyck. Elvis Merzlikins. Ilya Sorokin. John Gibson.
All nonetheless play for the staff that drafted them.
Then there are the pending UFAs: Marc-Andre Fleury, Kuemper, Jack Campbell, Jake Oettinger. What about Ville Husso, a UFA in St. Louis? Possibly.
However that’s it free of charge agent goalies who we believe to be reliable No. 1’s or just about it. The remainder of the pending loose brokers are goalies who had been as soon as No. 1’s however no longer anymore, or guys who by no means had been.
You’d wish to commerce Leon Draisaitl to get Oettinger from Dallas. Now not going down.
Fleury didn’t wish to come to Edmonton on the commerce cut-off date. Who is aware of if he’d exchange his thoughts?
Kuemper? Possibly, although his damage historical past does no longer breed self belief.
Campbell? At age 30, Campbell has made greater than 25 begins simply as soon as in his occupation. That doesn’t outline a reliable No. 1, in virtually someone’s books.
“I’ve were given to head thru a procedure and work out what to do, the place we are going,” mentioned Holland. “To suppose that we are going to finally end up with a primary man that may play 60 video games and he is a reliable primary? He is 27, 28 years of age? The chances of which are lovely narrow.
“However I have never labored the telephones. I do not know what different managers are considering relating to who is to be had, who is no longer to be had. Is one to be had for a large worth? They are no longer given the ones guys away. They are gonna desire a huge worth.”
Semyon Varlamov on Lengthy Island, or Gibson in Anaheim? Each have long no-trade lists.
That makes then all query marks, and sadly for Holland, he’s flush with the ones.
With extra questions than solutions in his crease, for this reason Holland earns the large greenbacks.
He wishes a goalie. Now not now, however presently.
