Blink and you might miss it. The NHL is an ever-changing business, where the tide can change in an instant. That is not only true to the action on the ice. As recent reports suggest, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins have reportedly rained on the parade of Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.
It’s no secret the Oilers are hoping to bolster their goaltending department. Whether the organization acquires a new netminder before the 2025-26 NHL season starts or, that’s a whole other story. And it’s one that keeps fans in Alberta up at night.
McDavid and the rest of the team are determined to avenge the consecutive defeats in the Stanley Cup Final, but that will be much easier said than done. Making some tweaks to the netminders’ tandem could go a long way toward Edmonton’s surge for the Cup.
On that note, it was Crosby‘s Penguins who pulled the rug from under McDavid and the Oilers. As has been reported, former Vancouver Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs was on Edmonton’s radar, but ultimately their trade package couldn’t compete with Pittsburgh’s offer.
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Philadelphia Flyers at PPG PAINTS Arena on April 11, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“The Oilers were involved. I think there was another team that was in the mix, [too]. Edmonton just couldn’t get it done, and the Oilers don’t really have a ton to offer,” insider Frank Seravalli said. “[Plus], they weren’t entirely sure that Silovs is better than what they have right now in Skinner and Pickard.”
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An eye for an eye
Crosby’s Penguins might have ruined the Oilers’ plan to acquire Silovs, but it could actually lead to an unexpected turn of events. Now, the noise surrounding a potential Edmonton trade for Tristan Jarry has only grown louder. However, McDavid and the Oilers may need help from the Penguins.
“I think if the Penguins retain half, I think that there’s a shot,” insider Jeff Marek said on The Sheet podcast. “Can Kyle Dubas move Jarry without retention? Probably not, but which team is gonna ask him to retain the least and maximize the return?”
Battle of Alberta? Yes, please
The NHL unveiled its schedule for the 2025-26 season, and the hype is already on the rise for fans all across the league. McDavid and the Oilers will kickstart the campaign against a familiar face: the Calgary Flames.
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The season opener will be none other than a Battle of Alberta, as the two foes in The Energy Province go head-to-head on October 8. The Oilers will host the Canucks three days later before embarking on a pace-setting five-game road trip, which includes visits to the the three teams in the Tri-State area, Detroit, and Ottawa.
