The Edmonton Oilers have pulled off a move no one saw coming — and the fallout could reshape the entire goaltending hierarchy. In a trade that stunned insiders, Edmonton acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth, a deal loaded with hidden implications that go far beyond the surface.
General Manager Stan Bowman faced the press with confidence, calling the trade a “depth move,” but Oilers fans aren’t fooled. This is more than depth. This is a direct challenge to the current order in Edmonton’s crease.
For Ingram, it’s a lifeline. The Saskatchewan-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 netminder has weathered a storm of personal struggles: the tragic loss of his mother, a difficult stint in the NHL’s player assistance program, and inconsistency in his time with both the Coyotes and Mammoth. Many wrote him off. But in Edmonton, he’s been handed a rare chance to rewrite the narrative.
The stunning reality? The Oilers essentially got him for free. Utah is eating his $800,000 salary, while Edmonton can bury his $1.15M cap hit in Bakersfield with no consequences. Translation: the Oilers just grabbed a goaltender with legit upside, at zero risk.
And the numbers don’t lie. Against non-playoff teams, Ingram quietly posted a .913 save percentage — nearly identical to Stuart Skinner’s numbers last year. Placed behind a stronger defensive system, Ingram could flourish in ways he never had the chance to before.
But this move raises uncomfortable questions — starting with Calvin Pickard. The veteran backup has been steady, but Ingram’s arrival changes everything. Suddenly, Pickard’s spot isn’t guaranteed, and the Oilers could be staring at a full-blown 1A/1B battle between Skinner and Ingram before season’s end.
Make no mistake: this isn’t just a minor-league stash. Edmonton’s management is hedging its bets, preparing for the possibility that Skinner might not hold up under playoff pressure. If Ingram finds his stride in Bakersfield, the Oilers won’t hesitate to elevate him — and that could flip the team’s entire goalie picture upside down.
For Oilers fans, the question is simple: is this the low-risk, high-reward swing that finally solidifies the team’s biggest weakness? Or just another name tossed into a carousel of netminders who couldn’t quite deliver?
The Oilers may be downplaying the move as a “depth trade.” But the truth? The Connor Ingram deal is a gamble with massive implications — and it just might be the pivot point in Edmonton’s season.
