Stan Bowman isn't ruling out a tryout invite for the Edmonton Oilers, and the timing lines up with a real hole in net.
The Oilers general manager addressed the PTO market this week, and he left the door open more than he closed it.
"There are still some decent players out there who are trying to find landing spots. I'm not sure if we're going to go down that road," Bowman said.
He didn't stop there. He kept talking, and the second half of his answer said even more than the first.
"We're not overflowing with players, but we also don't have a shortage of players," the GM said.
"We're in that mode where yeah, we probably could try to bring a guy in on a tryout, not the worst idea," he added.
That kind of hedge from a GM rarely comes out of nowhere. Edmonton is staring at a real question mark between the pipes heading into camp.
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Edmonton's goalie concerns could force Stan Bowman into late move
Frederik Andersen is dealing with an undisclosed injury and isn't expected back until at least October 20, according to the Oilers' own file.
That leaves Tristan Jarry as the clear number one, and his numbers last season won't ease anyone's nerves in Edmonton.
Jarry posted a .882 save percentage across 33 appearances a year ago, respectable enough, but not exactly a lockdown option for a roster built to win now.
Andersen wasn't much sharper when healthy, finishing last season at .874 through 35 games played.
It's the hockey version of keeping a spare tire in the trunk. You hope you never need it, but you really don't want to find out on the highway that you don't have one.
Still, it's worth asking. Is a training camp invite really enough insurance for a team that finished plus-13 in goal differential and 93 points last season?
Edmonton closed last year 41-30-11, good for 14th overall in the league standings.
That's a roster with real expectations, not one that should be crossing its fingers on a 36-year-old goaltender's recovery timeline.
Bowman's comments were first reported by Daily Faceoff Edmonton, citing OilersNow, and they read like a front office keeping every option open.
Nothing here is decided. But if Andersen's return slips past that October 20 target, the tryout conversation stops being hypothetical fast.
Should the Oilers actually sign a PTO goalie for training camp?
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