The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025 NHL Draft with one glaring need: goaltending.
After Stuart Skinner’s struggles helped the Florida Panthers capture their second consecutive Stanley Cup with a 4-2 series victory, fans expected the organization to address its most vulnerable position. Instead, the Oilers’ first pick at No. 83 overall left their fan base bewildered and angry.
Edmonton Oilers Suffer Fan Backlash Over Picking of Forward
The Oilers selected Tommy Lafreniere, a forward from the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League, with the 83rd overall pick. The decision immediately sparked outrage among fans who watched their team’s goaltending woes cost them another championship opportunity just 11 days earlier.
With the 83rd-overall pick, the #Oilers have selected forward Tommy Lafreniere from @blazerhockey of @TheWHL! #NHLDraft | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Tumns90V8N
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 28, 2025
Throughout the Stanley Cup Finals, both Skinner and Calvin Pickard struggled with lateral movement, allowing Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and other Panthers forwards to exploit their weaknesses repeatedly. Many analysts projected the Oilers would target goaltending prospects like Pyotr Andreyanov or Aleksei Medvedev with their first selection.
Cap Constraints Fuel Fan Frustration
The selection of Lafreniere triggered immediate criticism on social media, with fans questioning both the pick and the organization’s future direction.
One frustrated fan posted, “Poor kid doesn’t know what he’s walking into. Edmonton’s cap is so messed up, they’ll probably have to trade him in a Skinner salary dump before he even gets to training camp.”
The salary cap concerns are legitimate. The Oilers currently have just $12.35 million in cap space, limiting their ability to address roster deficiencies through free agency or trades.
Connor McDavid’s future with the organization also became a talking point among disappointed fans. “A player that’ll never play a game for us. Sure glad we didn’t make a move for a fkn goalie. Guess we can kiss McDavid goodbye,” one fan wrote. The superstar center has previously emphasized that winning championships remains his primary goal.
A player that’ll never play a game for us. Sure glad we didn’t make a move for a fkn goalie. Guess we can kiss McDavid goodbye
— ΛNCIΞNT匚ㄥㄖㄩᗪ (@Ancient_Cloud) June 28, 2025
The reality of returning with the same goaltending tandem prompted another pointed response. “Y’all running it back with Skinner and Pickard, huh?” a fan questioned.
Sarcasm dripped from another fan’s post: “Can he play between the pipes? And post a consistent .900 svp??” The comment underscored the glaring disconnect between the team’s most pressing need and its draft strategy.
Can he play between the pipes? And post a consistent .900 svp??
— Brady (@BUrbanovich) June 28, 2025
Not all reactions focused solely on positional needs. Some fans evaluated Lafreniere’s performance with Kamloops, where he posted 24 goals and 56 points in 68 games. However, his minus-33 rating raised concerns. “Plus/minus is not great for the kid (-33 in 68gp last year). Turnovers are what he needs to improve on. Has offensive upside,” one observer noted. Others suggested the Oilers should have selected Adam Benak instead.
The overwhelming consensus among the fanbase remains clear: choosing a forward over a goaltender represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the team’s championship window and its most critical weakness.
As Edmonton prepares for another season with championship aspirations, the organization’s failure to address its goaltending situation through the draft has only intensified pressure to find solutions elsewhere.
