The Edmonton Oilers are exploring every option to address their goaltending room ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season. Connor McDavid’s future in the team might depend on it. On that note, reports suggest the best option for the Oilers might actually be a retired goaltender, with an enviable pedigree.
The struggles in net have proven to be too much to handle even for the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl duo. Now, it’s on the Oilers to find a solution to the head-scratching issue in the crease.
There’s different options in the NHL trade market for Edmonton to embark on, but perhaps none presents a clear upgrade over their current tandem. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have been held responsible for mistakes during the past season. Still, they’ve also proven clutch in crucial stages. Therefore, any direction the Oilers go in could prove to be a gamble.
Un-retire
Maybe, the completely unexpected option is the most reliable ally for McDavid and the Oilers. The Athletic’s Ailan Mitchell certainly thinks so, as he stated they should pursue Marc-Andre Fleury out of retirement.
Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild reacts after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game Six of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 01, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota.
“The Edmonton Oilers should still try to bring in Fleury to back up inconsistent starter Stuart Skinner. Given the limited options elsewhere, Mitchell thinks [Fluery is] worth pursuing even if he keeps rejecting their requests,” per The Hockey News.
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Wild goose chase
In more ways than one, it makes a lot of sense for Edmonton to go down the Fleury-route. In many others, however, it seems the Oilers are banging their heads against a brick wall.
Fleury has made his decision to step away from the NHL crystal clear, and it would seem odd for him to backtrack so soon. Still, it wouldn’t be shocking. After all, the three-time Stanley Cup champ has had second thoughts about retiring before.
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This time feels different — and so far, it has been. But when it comes to ‘Flower’, fans across the league know to expect the unexpected. Perhaps the 40-year-old netminder has been saving his final prank for last.
