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Analyst Trolls the Oilers with Stunning Carey Price Hypothetical

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jim Parsons | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 11:31 AM ET

Despite the 8-1 blowout win of the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night, it seems like the fun thing to do these days is harp on the Edmonton Oilers’ defensive woes. Perhaps, rightfully so. The Oilers have allowed an ungodly amount of goals against in their last handful of games, and it’s led to questions about changes, even in goal, where Tristan Jarry has been subpar in net. One analysts didn’t mince words when breaking down the Edmonton Oilers’ latest goaltending gamble.

Appearing on Sportsnet’s “Real Kyper & Bourne,” analyst Renaud Lavoie called the Oilers’ trade for Tristan Jarry “a mistake,” suggesting the move was a rush job born out of impatience rather than necessity.

According to Lavoie, Edmonton panicked when early-season inconsistency surfaced in net and failed to show patience. Nick Kypreos was on the Jordan Binnington bandwagon early in the season, and asked why the Oilers didn’t wait for him, going so far as to suggest Connor McDavid should have shown up at the Olympics ready to recruit Binnington. Lavoie suggested it wouldn’t have mattered. Binnington is not good when he has a bad defense in front of him, and right now, the Oilers have a leaky group on their blue line.

"That trade was a mistake… Sometimes you need to be a little more patient. They weren't, and now they're paying the price again."@renlavoietva joins @RealKyper and @jtbourne to share his thoughts on Tristan Jarry and whether the Oilers can find another upgrade in net. pic.twitter.com/8deSXEld7v
— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) February 26, 2026

Since acquiring Jarry, the results have been uneven, and a lot of it is not on him.

Lavoie Sarcastically Suggests Only Carey Price Could Save the Oilers

Lavoie pointed to a bigger issue: Edmonton’s defensive structure can’t be saved by any typical goalie. The Oilers’ blue line has struggled with coverage breakdowns and high-danger chances against, putting any goaltender in a difficult position. Lavoie suggested that unless those defensive issues are addressed, no realistic trade deadline move will truly solve the problem.

In fact, he floated a dramatic hypothetical to drive the point home — implying that only a goalie of Carey Price’s caliber coming out of retirement could mask the team’s defensive flaws. And even then, it wouldn’t matter much if the system in front of him remains leaky.

In short, this isn’t about Jarry. It’s not about Connor Ingram. If the Oilers were to acquire Binnington, it’s not about him either. It would take a special kind of goalie to make it so the defensive issues weren’t a game-changer.

If the Oilers don’t tighten up defensively, they risk being an early out in the playoffs. Perhaps that’s why the team prioritized bringing in a coach like Paul Coffey. They want to get the message to the defensemen they do have. No goalie is going to make that happen.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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