Oilers 2026 Prospect Countdown No. 17: Connor Ungar

Connor Ungar hasn’t had a season with a save percentage under .900 since the 2019-2020 season, when he had a .892 in his three games with the Brandon Wheat Kings. The goaltending product out of Calgary had a good WHL career. Ungar played in five seasons (2018-2023), split among the Brandon Wheat Kings, the Red Deer Rebels, and the Moose Jaw Warriors.

In those five seasons, he played in 87 regular-season games, posting a 2.57 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, three shutouts, and 53 wins. In the five seasons, Ungar played 14 playoff games with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

After going undrafted and unsigned throughout his junior career, the Alberta native took his talents to Brock University for the 2023–24 season, and after winning 20 of 26 games with a 2.15 goals-against average and an insane .932 save percentage, Ungar signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

Throughout 2024–26, the 24-year-old netminder has played in 60 ECHL games with a 2.57 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, and in 13 AHL games with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Some of the numbers are outstanding, and it almost seems that wherever Ungar plays, he will put up a save percentage that is over the league average.

What are Connor Ungar’s primary strengths and weaknesses in net?

According to EliteProspects, Connor Ungar is listed as an inch smaller than Eemil Vinni (six-foot-three, 187 pounds) but outweighs the Finnish goaltender by a bit more at 205 pounds. In my viewings, it felt like Ungar was a decent amount smaller than Vinni, but I think that’s due to the natural aggressiveness that Vinni plays the position with. The Condors goalie plays a calmer style and doesn’t overly pursue a shooter as you can see below.

I don’t mind an aggressive goalie, and getting out toward the shooter helps cut down the angle, but it can take you out of the next play after. Ungar stood his ground at the top of the crease, and was able to make a great rebound save. I feel like there is never any panic in his game and it helps give viewers the same type of feeling. Even off of a turnover, Ungar is at the top of his crease and makes the save look easy.

The two clips above also highlight another strength I find with the former Brock goalie and that’s his ability to make a save in tight. When watching his games, I’ve noted several great saves in tight, and I think it helps that his pad work is excellent.

Anything down low seems to be eaten up by Ungar. However, when it comes to his hands, I find he struggles to control rebounds with his blocker side. Overall, his blocker side appears to be his weak point.

Ungar’s ability to read the game

One strength I want to talk about is his overall read on the game.

I find Ungar’s ability to read the opponent’s stick blade helps him make those micro-adjustments and assist his reactions in making a save. He can track the puck well and read where the danger zones are. Below is a video that I think helps illustrate his ability to read the play at a high level.

Watch that one again. Ungar slides over basically in sync with the pass, and I’m not sure he got a pad on the puck. This shows off his quick reaction speed, but also the ability to read that the opponent’s blade is in position to make a pass and Ungar times it perfectly.

In the final clip below, he shows his combination of calmness mixed with the ability to read the game.

The 205-pound goaltender tracks the puck, reads the pass, takes one push, and makes the save with no rebound. Ungar makes it look like an incredibly easy play on a chance from a high-danger area. The calmness in every movement makes me feel calm when Ungar is playing and sometimes that’s hard to find.

Connor Ungar’s 2026-27 projection and NHL timelines

Some fans were already calling for Ungar to get some looks in the NHL as a replacement for Tristan Jarry, but I think it’s still a little early for that. Ungar’s performance this past season earned him a one-year extension.

I want to see a full season of work out of the Calgary product in the AHL and that will be tough with the backlog of goaltenders in the system right now (the addition of Devon Levi didn’t help and Eemil Vinni is coming to North America). However, out of the goalies fighting for time in the AHL, it may just come down to Matt Tomkins and Connor Ungar.

If the former WHL netminder can win the starting job in Bakersfield and earn another contract, then I wouldn’t mind seeing him get some consideration for a backup/No. 3 role in 2029.

Top 20 Oilers prospects for 2026-27