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Edmonton Oilers Sign 31-Year-Old Team Canada Goaltender to Two-Year Contract
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Oilers have added some depth to their crease, as the team has signed a 31-year-old goaltender who played for Team Canada and the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Edmonton Oilers and Stan Bowman announced Tuesday night that they have signed goaltender Matt Tomkins to a two-year, two-way contract with an average annual value of $775,000.

Tomkins (6'4', 191 lbs.) dressed in 26 games for the AHL's Syracuse Crunch last season, finishing with a 12-10-5 record with a 2.55 GAA, .907 SV%, and three shutouts.

Originally a seventh-round selection of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2012 (199th overall), the 31-year-old Edmonton native has seen action in 91 AHL games over six seasons with Rockford and Syracuse.

During that time, he has compiled a career record of 38-42-11, including a 2.86 GAA, .901 SV%, and four shutouts.

Tomkins made six NHL appearances in the 2023-24 season with the Tampa Bay Lightning (3-2-1, 3.33 GAA, .892 SV%).

Tomkins played for Team Canada at the 2022 Olympics and had stellar stats

He also represented Team Canada at the 2022 Olympics, making three appearances (2-1-0, 1.01 GAA, .963 SV%, one shutout). Unfortunately, Canada was unable to win a medal at those Olympics, but Tomkins was extremely solid for them.

Tomkins will likely now serve as an AHL replacement for Olivier Rodrigue, whom the team elected not to give a qualifying offer to this week, ultimately ending his time with Edmonton.

Tomkins had an opportunity to win the backup role in Tampa for 2024-25, but ultimately spent the year sharing the crease with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch with Brandon Halverson and Ryan Fanti.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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