A Cup winning star is available right now for the Oilers but the window is closing fast
The Edmonton Oilers may have just been handed the off-season gift they desperately needed.
Chris Johnston told That's Hockey on Sunday that he expects Sergei Bobrovsky to hit the open market. There's still time for that to change, but the forecast right now points to free agency.
That changes the entire Oilers goaltending conversation. Edmonton fans have been demanding a true No.1 in net for years. Bobrovsky on the market means a real Vezina-caliber answer suddenly exists.
The Oilers crease was a disaster last season. Tristan Jarry allowed 23 goals across the 6-game first-round series loss to Anaheim. His regular-season save percentage finished at 0.882 across 33 starts on a $5.375 million cap hit.
Connor Ingram finished at 0.898. Calvin Pickard sat at 0.870. None of those numbers belong on a roster trying to chase Connor McDavid's window.
Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner. He just helped Florida win back-to-back Stanley Cups. He's the kind of established veteran net presence that anchors a team through four rounds of postseason hockey.
Why Stan Bowman has to be paying attention
GM Bowman has spent this off-season restructuring everything else. Michael Parkatti got promoted to VP of Analytics and Technology. Kirt Hill arrived as Assistant GM of Player Procurement. The head-coach search continues with Bruce Cassidy blocked by Vegas and Peter Laviolette in the mix.
The crease is still the loudest unanswered question. Bobrovsky's name on the open market is the kind of break the Oilers don't usually get.
The age is the wrinkle. Bobrovsky is 37. He's still posting top-tier numbers, but free agency means real term commitments at premium dollars for a goaltender approaching the back end of his career.
Edmonton finished 41-30-11 with 93 points, 14th overall. The roster has McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The forward group can score. The defense gives up too much. A veteran goaltender hides plenty of those problems on the right nights.
Honestly, the Oilers can't afford to be conservative this summer. McDavid still hasn't made a final commitment on his future. Pierre LeBrun reported he'll likely stay for at least one more year. That's not a forever guarantee. The window is now.
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The Florida Panthers could still re-sign Bobrovsky before July 1. Johnston left that door open. But the forecast leans toward free agency, and that gives Bowman a target every Edmonton fan would line up to celebrate.
Free agency opens July 1. The competition for Bobrovsky will be heavy. Edmonton has the cap space and the storyline to make a real pitch. The decision is now Bowman's to make.
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JUNE 2, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 3 | 3 | |
| Nikolaj Ehlers | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Brett Howden | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jalen Chatfield | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Ivan Barbashev | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | - | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mitch Marner | - | 1 | 1 | |
| K'Andre Miller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Colton Sissons | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Cole Smith | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | - | - | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Jackson Blake | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||