The tandem of Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth was not enough to solve the Oiler’s goaltending issues this season, and it has fans looking forward to better things.
It’s expected that Viktor Fasth will walk into free agency, and it’s likely that Richard Bachman will as well. That leaves Ben Scrivens with the big club while Laurent Brossoit takes on the starting role in Bakersfield.
While there’s speculation about the Oilers hunting the free agent pool to fill-in the holes at the position, one college free agent comes to mind…
WHO IS MATT O’CONNOR???
I’ll tell you!
Matt O’Connor is the most sought after college free agent and he happens to be a goaltender. He’s 22-years old and his impressive resume includes three seasons with Boston University, the latest being his most impressive.
He was draft eligible in 2010 where he underwhelmed playing in the OJHL with very poor numbers. Goalies are always a crapshoot to scout and he took his career to the USHL where he played with the Youngstown Phantoms.
O’Connor then committed to Boston University where he has been progressing steadily over his three seasons. To date, he has an astounding 18-3-4 record to go along with an impressive 2.21 GAA and .927 save percentage.
DO THE OILERS HAVE A CHANCE TO LAND THIS GUY?
I’m glad you asked.
If you trust the words coming out of the mouths of media experts such as Darren Dreger and Elliotte Friedman, then why yes they do.
Darren Dreger believes as many as 14 NHL teams have expressed interest in the goaltender, and Edmonton is for sure one of them.
Elliotte Friedman mentioned that “Craig MacTavish met with him briefly after a game a couple of weeks ago and it’s expected Oilers will meet with him further” in an article in December 2014.
We know that the Oilers have done some of their due diligence, but what can they offer that other teams can’t?
Well, it’s believed that O’Connor would like to play as soon as this season, and it’s believed that he would sign with a team that can assure playing time in the NHL as soon as this season.
Well, in a recent interview with GM Craig MacTavish, he alluded the fact that the Oilers will be auditioning many of their prospects including goaltender Laurent Brossoit. With that being known it’s not too far of a stretch to believe that O’Connor would see NHL action if he signed with club.
BUT IF WE ALREADY HAVE BROSSOIT, DO WE REALLY NEED A GOALIE-OF-THE-FUTURE?
Have you ever heard a GM complain about having too many good options in net? No. No you have not.
In today’s game, goaltenders are the only position that can win you games you shouldn’t win as much as they can lose you games that you should win. Remember Ben Scrivens’ magical 59-save shutout. Wouldn’t it be nice to see something like that again?
I think back to the time the Ottawa Senators entered the lockout season with Ben Bishop, Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner as their top three goalies. All three have (had) starting goalie potential and the Sens were able to turn one of them into an asset. Okay, Cory Conacher and the pick never panned out but it looked good at the time.
The Tampa Bay Lightning now have Ben Bishop, Andrei Vasilevski and Kirsters Gudlevskis at their disposal. Eventually, one of those guys will be dealt for insane value. Never a bad thing.
If both Brossoit and O’Connor turn out to be NHL goaltenders, it’s a huge win.
SUM IT UP ALREADY
Okay, okay. Yeah, i’m a crazy writer that asks questions for myself to answer, but if I were in GM Craig MacTavish’s shoes, i’d be giving O’Connor personal foot rubs to ensure he signs with the Oilers.
Let’s hope for a miracle.
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