NHL Exec: Oilers, Bruins Trade Could Be Coming

This is not the start the Stanley Cup-contending Edmonton Oilers were hoping for. 0-2 to start the season after their second straight loss to the Vancouver Canucks. And the biggest weakness to this point, to the surprise of no one, is goaltending. 

Jack Campbell was blown out of their first game after allowing four goals on 16 shots, and replaced by Stuart Skinner, who then allowed another four goals on another 16 shots. 

That scene somewhat repeated itself Saturday night, when Skinner started, and once again allowed four goals on just 16 shots (while his teammates peppered 40 shots at Canucks' goalie Casey DeSmith). Both Campbell and Skinner have save percentages of .750.

How long until the Oilers start to look for help between the pipes? According to a rival NHL executive who spoke with Boston Hockey Now, those calls will start very soon. And he knows who'll be on the other end of the line:

I can tell you right now,  a few more of those from either goalie, and (Oilers GM) Kenny (Holland) is on the horn looking for a goalie. 

(And) if he’s getting a goalie, he’s getting the solution, not a stop-gap. I heard they definitely looked in on (the Boston Bruins' Linus) Ullmark and (Jeremy) Swayman over the summer, so if that’s true, Kenny is calling (Bruins GM Donny (Sweeney) soon, maybe.

The Bruins' tandem won the Jennings Trophy last year with Ullmark posting a 1.89 GAA and .938 SV%, while Swayman, the "backup", registering a 2.27 GAA and .920 SV%. You could say that having that rock-solid goaltending last year was key to the Bruins winning the Presidents' Trophy with their sensational 135 points. 

But the Bruins also have some holes to fill this season, and perhaps dealing one of them would be a move they might have to make at some point. If so, it's likely that the Oilers will be ready to pounce.

Photo: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports