Oilers Reveal Plans for Goalie Rotation After Recent Trade

“Hopefully they feel it was just an insurance and we are not pushing them out,” Knoblauch said. “I think it’s important that they hear that.”

Bowman confirmed that the immediate plan is for Ingram to start in Bakersfield of the AHL, the Oilers affiliate team there.

“Plan for him is to go to Bakersfield,” Bowman said. “He’s not been in training camp right now, so we need to get him going and up to speed. Goalie is that one position where, when you need it, it’s really difficult to find it.”

The Oilers acquired Ingram at minimal cost, sending future considerations to Utah while having $800,000 of his $1.95 million cap hit retained.

Bowman praised Ingram's game and skillset, saying that whenever he's ready, and if needed, the Oilers willt trust him.

“When he’s playing well and he’s on top of his game, he can be a really good goaltender,” Bowman said.

With all three goalies in the final year of their contracts, Bowman acknowledged the organization has decisions ahead but said no extension talks have started.

“Sometimes that goes both ways, where you get a really motivated goalie, and you get them wanting to prove that they’re the guy for the future,” Bowman said. “So now, we’ve essentially got three guys in that boat in the last year of their contracts, and we’ll have to sort out what we’re going to do with our goaltending over the next 10 months.”

For now, the message from Edmonton’s leadership is clear and points toward Skinner and Pickard remaining the NHL tandem, while Ingram waits on the wings as a safety net in case the team’s goaltending situation changes later in the season.