Report: The Edmonton Oilers are considering changing their goalie coach

The Edmonton Oilers have been in the market for a new goalie since time immemoriam, but it seems as though that move has started to pivot. On today’s 32 Thoughts The Podcast, Elliotte Friedman noted that the Oilers may be looking to move on from their goaltending coach.

What did Elliotte Friedman say?

Here’s what Friedman said:

I do think Edmonton is considering a change at the goalie coach position. Now some of their other assistant coaches need contracts and Glen Gulutzan is still in the Dallas job picture. But I do think one of the things they’re gonna consider is going to be a change at the goalie Coach.

Two factors likely influenced this decision. The first is the performance of Dustin Schwartz, who has been in the role since 2014. In his time, the Oilers have seen a carousel of netminders come and go through the system, and that position continues to be the biggest hole in the team. At some point, you have to ask the question as to how none of the Oilers’ netminders have worked out the way the team needed.

The second is that the market for goalies has significantly shrunk, and the cost to acquire a goalie is increasing. The Oilers are in a cap crunch and do not have many tradeable assets that they can comfortably give away in exchange for help in net. It would be easier to move on from the goalie coach than to acquire a new goalie.

What to expect this summer?

The Oilers have a lot of off-ice work to deal with this summer, with new contracts needed for many of their assistant coaches. Coach Kris Knoblauch is also in line for a new deal, as his current one expires at the end of the upcoming season.

The future of Schwartz is very much up in the air, but if the team can find someone with more experience working with netminders on contending teams, it may be a worthwhile gamble.