Insider: One Team Drops Out Of Goaltending Chase

All season long, we've known that several teams have been looking to improve their situation between the pipes, and teams like the Carolina Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings have been linked to many of the available goaltenders on the trade market. 

But according to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on Monday's 32 Thoughts podcast, one team seems to have gotten off the Goalie Carousel:

I think one of the things that's that's pretty clear with Edmonton is that I don't think they're gonna add a goalie. I think they're looking at forwards, I think they're looking at D... but I just don't think they feel that it makes sense for them to move an asset or rejuggle their lineup for goaltending as long as Skinner is on point. 

Skinner has been "on point", for the most part, over the last three months. Through December and January when the Oilers went on their wild run back up the standings, Skinner was 15-2-0 with a save percentage of .936. February has been a bit trickier, as he allowed nine goals in his previous two games going into Monday's matchup with the Arizona Coyotes. 

Overall, the 25-year-old is 24-12-1 with a 2.56 goals against and a .906 Sv%. In addition, Calvin Pickard has been more than adequate as the backup.

Also, as Friedman notes, with $1.6M in cap space, "for every dollar (new players acquired in trade) that comes in, they're going to have to move some money out (and expunge somebody from the roster)."

So the Oilers are looking to make a big swing elsewhere in the lineup and keep playing their hand in net, so long as there are no injuries there. 

Photo: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports