The Edmonton Oilers continue to wrestle with a familiar problem that has followed them since last season. Their goaltending still feels unsettled, and frustration from fans has grown as the team tries to find stability in the crease. Each game adds pressure, creating a debate that now shapes much of the conversation around the Oilers’ early season.
As the team works to regain momentum, the spotlight once again falls on Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Both goalies have gone through uneven stretches, and the uncertainty surrounding their play has opened the door to new ideas and new arguments. That discussion recently took a sharp turn online, building momentum around the possibility of bringing in help and dividing the fan base in the process.
Could a 2-Time All-Star Fix the Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard Problem?
The Oilers’ goaltending has become a daily talking point, and the recent numbers from both Skinner and Pickard have intensified the pressure. Their combined save percentage has dropped near the bottom of the league, adding urgency to the search for improvement.
Analysts have also questioned the defensive structure in front of them, which has contributed to difficult nights for both goalies. Still, the bottom line remains that Edmonton is allowing too much and stopping too little.
The tension grew even stronger when NHL insider Preston Hodgkinson highlighted how Pickard’s night worsened his already tough statistics. His post read, “Pickard’s league-worst save percentage (.836) is not going to get any better after tonight. Four goals on 20 shots gives him a .800 through 40 minutes. To compare, Jack Campbell had an .873 before the Oilers waived him a few years ago.”
Tyler Yaremchuk added to the conversation with a reshared post on X. He wrote, “It’s time for Pickard. It is just a shame that Connor Ingram has not found his footing in Bakersfield. Great guy, saved them in the playoffs, but they cannot keep running him out there.” His comments immediately shifted attention toward Connor Ingram, the former Utah goaltender and two-time WHL All-Star, whom some fans believe deserves a chance.
The fan reactions came fast and showed how divided the conversation has become. One fan said, “It does suck that Connor Ingram isn’t quite ready yet.”
It does suck that Connor Ingram isn’t quite ready yet. https://t.co/ejVkiLVXMG
— Jesse Courville-Lynch (@JCourvilleLynch) November 14, 2025
Others, however, pushed back, insisting Edmonton has no choice but to try something different. Another user wrote, “I truly don’t care what Connor Ingram’s stats are in the AHL. After tonight, the Oilers have to call him up and give him a look.”
I truly don’t care what Connor Ingram’s stats are in the AHL. After tonight, the Oilers have to call him up and give him a look-see.
— Rob Soria (@Oil_Drop) November 14, 2025
Some fans explained that Ingram’s struggles might be influenced by the young Condors’ blue line. One user said, “Connor Ingram hasn’t been the greatest in Bakersfield so far, but some of that has been the blue line and the youth on the Condors. But at some point, they’ll have to call him up and give him a few starts. Because this level of goaltending isn’t going to get it done.”
Connor Ingram hasn’t been the greatest in Bakersfield so far, but some of that has been the blueline and youth on the Condors. But at some point they’ll have to call him up and give him a few starts. Because this level of goaltending isn’t going to get it done.
— Joey (@_TheIronCowboy) November 14, 2025
The discussion kept building, and more frustrated reactions followed. One fan wrote, “There’s no way Connor Ingram could be as bad as Pickard.” But between every strong opinion, there remained an underlying sense of confusion about direction. Some fans believe opportunity is the solution, while others feel the timeline is slipping away.
Another voice added urgency, writing, “You have to actually start Ingram for him to find his footing.” That idea created a bridge between frustration and hope, suggesting that opportunity, not perfection, might be the key.
Also read: Oilers’ Connor Ingram Breaks Silence On Starting From Scratch
In the midst of all the emotion, one comment captured the broader concern around the Oilers’ approach: “One hundred percent. I don’t think we should start Pickard again. With Ingram not even playing in Bakersfield right now, we need to find a solution somewhere. The question is where, and will our GM, who seems to think that this goaltending is fine, actually do anything?”
These reactions reveal a fan base that is not divided about the problem but about the solution. For now, the Oilers continue with Skinner and Pickard, but the pressure around the crease keeps growing. The next decision may determine the course of this season.
