The Edmonton Oilers enter the 2025-26 NHL season with a strong focus on resolving the contract situation of their captain, Connor McDavid. At the same time, despite their efforts to win the Stanley Cup, the team has been hampered by a lack of depth in goal.
With McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at the peak of their careers, the pressure to improve defensive performance is growing. The Oilers fell short in their attempt to win the Stanley Cup final, losing twice in a row to the Florida Panthers, and the impact of those losses is still being felt.
Last season, the combination of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in net showed flashes of quality but also inconsistencies that prevented the Oilers from securing the championship. In this context, a new challenge has emerged as the team looks to strengthen that position.
Oilers get updates on a goalie target
The truth is that the Oilers were interested in several goaltenders who could be intriguing options as the season approaches. Michael DiPietro and Nico Daws are the two primary targets the franchise identified for potential acquisitions.
Goalie Michael DiPietro during his stint in the Vancouver Canucks
However, NHL insider Bob Stauffer reported that the Oilers have hit a major setback, as the Boston Bruins are expected to do everything possible to retain DiPietro on their roster for the 2025-26 NHL season, preventing him from being placed on waivers before the start of the upcoming campaign.
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No good news for Daws either
While DiPietro seems out of reach for Edmonton, the situation with Daws of the New Jersey Devils is different. According to Stauffer, the 24-year-old goalie is expected to be placed on waivers. Still, complications remain, as the Oilers will only have one chance to claim him, with many other teams ahead of them in the waiver order.
