Fixing The Problems – Part Three

Today we look at the final part of the Oilers roster in the “Fixing The Problems” series. Today we look at goaltending, one of the big areas of concern in Edmonton. The Oilers entered the season with Devan Dubnyk and Jason Labarbera, but will be moving forward with a totally different look in between the pipes.

Day Three, Goaltending:

This was the year Dubnyk was supposed to prove he deserved the Oilers long-term starters role, but things have not come close to going as planned. Labarbera was traded to Chicago for futures, while top goaltending prospect Olivier Roy was shipped to Calgary in the Smid deal.

The Oilers have added Ilya Bryzgalov, Chet Pickard and Laurent Brossoit to the stable this season already, and have begun their transformation in the crease.

While the transformation has already started, it isn’t close to over yet. The Oilers will no doubt be hunting for another goalie this summer, and could be hunting for two depending on who they re-sign. Here’s the current depth chart…

Ilya Bryzgalov

Devan Dubnyk

Richard Bachman, Chet Pickard, Laurent Brossoit

Untouchables?:

This is the lone position where the answer is a resounding NO. There aren’t any untouchable players at the goaltending position. The closest thing to untouchable is prospect Laurent Brossoit. The Oilers think highly of him and will give him every chance to end up as their starting goalie down the road. He’s the lone guy I think is 100% going to be back next year.

Hit The Road Jack:

Devan Dubnyk will either be traded at the deadline, or simply not re-signed by the Oilers. It is quite clear that Craig MacTavish and Dallas Eakins do not view DD as the Oilers starter moving forward. This was clear over the summer when the Oilers went after a number of goalies, and was cemented by DD’s terrible start. There is a 0% chance he is back next season.

I’m on the fence with Richard Bachman, and leaning towards him coming back. That said, I also wouldn’t be shocked if the Oilers moved on and gave Brossoit the starters job in OKC. There is a chance AHL back-up Chet Pickard is moved along as well.

Needs:

The Oilers are going to have a lot of needs at this position. First off they are going to need a starting goalie. I suspect they’ll dip into free agency for that. They don’t have a back-up under contract for next season either, and will need to add one of those, as well as a number three goalie. Basically, Edmonton’s entire goaltending depth-chart is a need for next season.

Apply Here!:

Starting Goalie: The Oilers are going to have to go the UFA route here, and there are plenty of options. Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller is my top one. Hiller is 31, and is in the prime of his career. He’s given the Ducks years of good goaltending and will likely hit the market thanks to the numbers game. He could be had at a decent contract, and Jim Matheson reported months ago the Oilers are interested.

He’s not a great goalie, but he’s a pretty darn good one and a legit NHL starter. Blues goalies Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliot will be on the market as well, and both could be good options in this role for the Oilers. Let’s say the Oil sign Jonas Hiller.

Backup Goalie: My top option is already on the roster, and that is Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryz has been good in all but one start for the Oilers to this point, and looks like he is enjoying his new team and city. I’m not ready to give him the starters job just yet, but I think he would be a solid backup option for next season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Edmonton gave him that job.

Other options include Elliot, who is better suited for this role, Scott Clemmensen in Florida, and Anton Khudobin out of Carolina.

I’ll say Bryz is retained on a one-year deal by the Oilers.

Number Three Goalie: I could see Richard Bachman back in this spot for one year, but I also would not be surprised if Brossoit get the nod as the Barons starter as I said above. That said, I’ll say MacTavish, unlike Tambellini was, will be patient and bring back Bachman for a season, going with him and Brossoit in OKC. Veteran Joey MacDonald could be an option too if the Oilers wanted a free agent.

So What Now:

The Oilers complete their transformation in between the pipes this off-season. MacTavish gets a starter he is confident and, according to reports, interested in with Hiller, and keeps a solid veteran backup in Bryzgalov. MacTavish was a coach who had to deal with bad goaltending, and was at his best when he had decent play there.

I suspect MacT will try and give decent goaltending play to Dallas Eakins this off-season with the addition of a starter. With the free agent signing, here’s what we are looking at:

NHL: Jonas Hiller and Ilya Bryzgalov

AHL: Richard Bachman and Laurent Brossoit