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Trade Pitch Brings Laurent Brossoit Back to Edmonton

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Dec 18, 2025 1:16 PM ET

The Edmonton Oilers have been linked to just about every goalie in the NHL in recent years as they searched for an upgrade on the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Acquiring Tristan Jarry in a massive deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday morning has certainly quieted down the speculation around the state of the Oilers’ crease, though not entirely.

Jarry is now the unquestioned number one in Edmonton, expected to handle the bulk of the workload moving forward. That said, relying on Calvin Pickard as the backup may no longer be viable, given his struggles — to put it mildly — so far this season.

Because of that, some goaltending trade chatter has continued, with many linking the Oilers to a Laurent Brossoit reunion. We talked about the idea of Brossoit as a waiver option. Realizing it was unlikely given the salary cap situation, Jesse Courville-Lynch of The Hockey Writers recently added to the idea by pitching a hypothetical deal to bring Brossoit back to Edmonton, which would see Mattias Janmark and a sixth-round pick sent to Chicago.

Courville-Lynch wrote:

“Realistically, a deal between the two teams looks like the Oilers acquiring Brossoit, with half of his cap hit retained, in exchange for Mattias Janmark and a future sixth-round pick. The Oilers free up the money needed to bring Brossoit in, while the Blackhawks add a forward who has proven to be a solid playoff performer and future draft capital,”

The 32-year-old Brossoit is a pending UFA, in the second season of the two-year, $6.6 million contract he signed to join the Blackhawks back in 2024.

Do the Oilers Really Need Laurent Brossoit?

Given the Penguins wouldn’t retain salary on Jarry, it’s a potential stretch to assume the Blackhawks would retain on Brossoit. While there’s no question that Stan Bowman must continue to look around for alternative backup options to Pickard, Brossoit is no sure thing either.

The veteran netminder was excellent during his time with the Winnipeg Jets in 2023-24 and very solid as a Vegas Golden Knight in the years prior. Unfortunately, he hasn’t played since that 2023-24 campaign due to knee and hip injuries and is only now returning to professional hockey on a conditioning stint with the Rockford IceHogs.

Acquiring Brossoit wouldn’t cost much, but Janmark has been an effective bottom-six, penalty-killing forward for the Oilers, particularly during the last two playoff runs. Giving him up for a goalie with so many question marks may not be worth it, despite the need to upgrade on Pickard. Not only that, but it might not be enough if the Oilers require salary retention.

In the end, it might make more sense for Bowman to let the Jarry-Pickard tandem develop before making another move, and if it reaches a point where something has to be done, an option like Alex Lyon could be prioritized before settling on Brossoit.

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

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