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Oilers Learning the Consequences of Fixing What Wasn’t Broken

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Mar 14, 2026 2:50 PM ET

A recent article by The Old Prof at The Hockey Writers raises an interesting question about the Edmonton Oilers and the direction the organization has taken this season. In his piece examining the team’s goaltending shuffle, he revisits a comment from Oilers general manager Stan Bowman when he traded Stuart Skinner. At the time, Bowman said that the team needed “something different.”

The question one should ponder now is an old adage that applies here: Is it a bad idea to fix what’s not broken?

What if the Oilers, who were struggling as an entire team at the time of the trade, didn’t actually need something different in the first place?

The Oilers’ Goaltending Might Not Have Been The Problem

For two years in a row, the goaltending combination of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard backstopped an Oilers team led by two generational players in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. That was enough to get the team to the Stanley Cup Final, but it fell just short both times against the Florida Panthers. That foundation hadn’t changed, and despite Edmonton remaining a dangerous team because of those two, management felt the need to make a change.

What was mostly ignored was the fact that the Oilers were playing awful hockey. Yes, there were times when the goaltending could have been better. That said, this wasn’t new. Skinner and Pickard had been on and off for both years the Oilers made their runs, finding their stride as the team, which had a habit of getting off to slow starts, got going.

As Old Prof notes in his article, the Oilers carried enormous pressure to win, which pushed Bowman into what now appears to be a rushed goaltending decision. The team was still competitive, but they just weren’t playing well, and the goaltending numbers suffered as a result.

The Goaltending Situation Just Got Arguably Worse

Unlike the Colorado Avalanche, who changed out both of their goalies last season to great success, the changes haven’t worked in Edmonton.

Connor Ingram has been a nice story, but he’s not been the answer. Tristan Jarry has been a disaster based on early returns. The unpredictability of the goaltending in Edmonton now makes it appear like “something different” has become something worse. Jarry can’t seem to find his footing. Ingram might not be a starter, but he’ll be pushed into that role. All the while, the Oilers lack confidence in either netminder.

That uncertainty is what makes Bowman’s comment so frustrating for Oilers fans. Saying a team needed “something different” can sound decisive, but the plan to improve the situation felt thrown together. Worse yet, Bowman and his pro scouting staff identified the wrong guy as the fix.

Sometimes, the hardest decision is remaining patient. The Oilers had proven they had what it took to find their groove and take the governor off when ready. When Skinner was dealt, one could argue the Oilers hadn’t yet put forth their best effort.

Imagine how different things could have been if the Skinner who is performing well in Pittsburgh was still in an Oilers’ jersey. At the very worst, he’d have been a free agent at the end of the season, and Edmonton wouldn’t have locked themselves into multiple years of their underwhelming replacement.

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

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