NHL News: Oilers send right signals to Connor McDavid and company with drastic decision at goaltending area

Following yet another defeat in the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers are determined the right their wrongs. On that note, the organization has made a bold move that could be just what Connor McDavid and the rest of the team wanted to see before the 2025-26 NHL season.

The Oilers must do something about the goaltending room, and they should act quick. Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard have proven to be too inconsistent for McDavid and Edmonton to conquer the Cup—at least so far.

Now, the Oilers are looking to turn the page after a disappointing finish to the past campaign. Though Edmonton hasn’t made any signing at the goaltending position so far in free agency, that possibility cannot be discarded yet. Or perhaps the Oilers are waiting to make a trade for another netminder once the 2025-26 NHL season is closer to its start.

Moving on

Regardless of which approach GM Stan Bowman and the front office take, Edmonton is serious about getting better results in the crease and has now made a decision that McDavid and company can truly appreciate.

Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers looks on after being benched during the third period against the Florida Panthers in Game Three of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 09, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

“For the first time in over a decade the Edmonton Oilers will have a new goalie coach,” as reported by Oilers Nation. “Dustin Schwartz, who was hired in November of 2014, will not return for a 12th season. His contract expired on last week on June 30th, and the Oilers have decided to not sign him to an extension.“

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Fresh air

Obviously, neither McDavid nor anyone in the organization is happy about someone losing their job. But when it comes to the message this sends through the team, moving on from Schwartz could mark the beginning of a new era for the Oilers’ goaltending.

While the Oilers could still make changes to their goaltending room, as it stands, Skinner and Pickard are set to split the games next season. Edmonton would certainly welcome better numbers from its two goalies. Last season, Skinner finished the regular season with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. Pickard, meanwhile, posted a 2.71 GAA and a .900 SV%.

Moving on from Schwartz and sticking with the goalie tandem might prove to be the right move. But it could also turn out to be a decision McDavid and the Oilers will live to regret. At this stage in the NHL offseason, however, that remains to be seen.