EDMONTON – Evander Kane, Jesse Pulyuarvi, Tyson Barry, Mike Smith …
If you’re still not sure what Edmonton Oilers’ top priority is this summer, then you’re either: Ah, you’re not paying enough attention; or B, did not hear Ken Holland’s press conference at the end of the year on Wednesday.
“Do you have a number one goalkeeper for next season?” The Netherlands was asked frankly.
This was probably the shortest answer he had given all day:
“No, I don’t think we have a number one goalkeeper. I don’t, no. ”
Holland continued to qualify this thought, but after the first two sentences, the rest, respectfully, is just a word salad.
With the participation of the Final Four under their collective belt, the Dutch team is officially in this window, where – with the right changes and a little luck – it can be considered a legitimate contender for the Stanley Cup.
But can you say that about a team that doesn’t have a qualified, accepted goalkeeper? We’re not sure you can.
This is how the summer of the Netherlands goes. After unsuccessfully chasing Jacob Markstrom and Darcy Kumper last summer, it’s not like he hasn’t been looking for number one since the day he walked in the door here in Edmonton.
But they don’t pay him $ 5 million a season for trying. Just like we said about his players, it’s time for results.
This is an absolutely critical issue at a critical time here in Edmonton. Miko Koskinen’s outrageous contract has finally expired, the young Stuart Skinner is ready to be a backup in the NHL, and Smith has one more year left with $ 2.2 million, but he can be a candidate for LTIR.
Today, the Netherlands has two contract backups, but no number one.
That needs to change.
“Goalkeeper number one for me can play 55 to 60 games. How many are in the league? Ten or 12 of them? “Holland asked.” I don’t know if any of them are available – I haven’t worked on the phone. I haven’t met with Smith yet, I’m not sure what he thinks. ”
The media met with Smith on Tuesday and we asked him if at 40 he could still be the number one goalkeeper in the National Hockey League. He thought for a moment.
“I don’t know,” was his reply.
Our answer: He can’t.
We’ve seen a few 40-year backups these days, but it’s never a legitimate starter. Smith was injured for most of the season, an aspect of his age, and suffered another injury during the playoffs, Holland said.
Smith is tired as the playoffs continue, and a team that has to figure out how to score in the future just needs better goalkeeping to be part of that journey – period.
This team will not win without goalkeeper number 1. We all know that – including the Netherlands.
Where this goalkeeper comes from, however, is the big unknown.
“Do I want goalkeeper number one, Spike?” Yes. I think 32 teams want that, “Holland began. “It’s like NFL quarterbacks – there aren’t 30 (legal holders). This is a unique position, so there are only a small part of them. And many of them are domestic. They are ready. They have been developed. ”
Igor Shesterkin. Andrey Vasilevsky. Jake Oettinger. Juice Saros. Tristan Jari. Carter Hart. Carrie Price. Thatcher Demko. Connor Hellback. Elvis Merzlikins. Ilya Sorokin. John Gibson.
Everyone is still playing for the team that made them.
Then come the upcoming UFA: Mark-Andre Florey, Kumper, Jack Campbell, Jake Oettinger. How about Ville Husso, UFA in St. Louis? Perhaps.
But this is all for the free goalkeepers, who we consider to be the legal number 1 or close to him. The other waiting free agents are goalkeepers who were once number 1 but no longer are, or boys who have never been.
You’ll have to swap Leon Drysight to get Oettinger from Dallas. It will never happen.
Florey did not want to come to Edmonton at the trade deadline. Who knows if he would change his mind?
Cumper? Perhaps, although his history of injuries does not create confidence.
Campbell? At the age of 30, Campbell has made more than 25 starts only once in his career. This does not determine the legal number 1 in the books of almost anyone.
“I have to go through a process and figure out what to do, where we’re going,” Holland said. “To think that we will end up with the number one person who can play 60 games and is the legal number one?” He is 27, 28 years old? The chances of this are quite small.
“But I didn’t work on the phones. I don’t know what other managers think about who’s available, who’s not available. Is one available at a huge price? These guys don’t give them away. They will want a huge price. ”
Semyon Varlamov on Long Island or Gibson in Anaheim? Both have long trade ban lists.
This makes all the question marks and unfortunately for the Netherlands, he is on par with them.
With more questions than answers, that’s why Holland makes big money.
He needs a goalkeeper. Not now, but right now.
Add Comment