There's Always Stuart Skinner: Oilers UFA Market Looks Slim

May 18, 2026 - 12:53

Stan Bowman might need to find a starting goaltender this summer, but the UFA market has looked him dead in the eyes and shrugged. The Edmonton Oilers, coming off another deep playoff run, face a familiar problem: what to do in net. While Stuart Skinner remains the club's clear number one, the options to upgrade or even add reliable depth behind him are alarmingly scarce.

The unrestricted free agent goaltending pool for 2025 is shallow. Names like Ilya Samsonov, Anthony Stolarz, and a few aging veterans will likely hit the open market, but none project as a clear upgrade over Skinner. Samsonov has shown flashes but lacks consistency. Stolarz is a solid backup, not a starter. The Oilers are stuck. They cannot afford a top-tier free agent, and trading for a star goalie would cost assets they need elsewhere.

This leaves Edmonton leaning heavily on Skinner, who has been both brilliant and erratic. He stole games in the playoffs but also had stretches where he looked lost. The front office knows that banking on Skinner alone is risky, especially with a championship window wide open. The cap situation is tight, and the team needs help on the blue line and in the bottom six. A big-money goalie signing is not realistic.

So the Oilers will likely go bargain hunting. They might sign a cheap veteran to push Skinner, or they might roll the dice on a young goalie from within the organization. Either way, the UFA market is not offering much help. For now, Stuart Skinner is the man, and the Oilers will have to hope he can handle the load.