As the calendar flips to December, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a spot that’s become all too familiar in recent years-on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture. The roster is top-heavy with elite talent, but the question that continues to hover over this team is depth. Do they have enough of it to actually make a run when it matters most?
Inside the organization, there’s no sense of panic. The front office isn’t rushing to shake things up, and the coaching staff seems committed to riding it out with the current group.
But outside the walls of Rogers Place, fans are starting to get restless. With the team currently sitting below the postseason cutline, patience is wearing thin.
Stuart Skinner Trade Rumors? Not So Fast
One of the bigger storylines that briefly caught fire involved goaltender Stuart Skinner. There was chatter that Skinner might be open to a trade, potentially looking for a fresh start elsewhere.
But according to Elliotte Friedman, that speculation doesn’t hold up. During his Saturday Headlines segment, Friedman made it clear that, to his knowledge, Skinner hasn’t asked out, and the Oilers aren’t looking to make a lateral move in net.
That’s a key point. Edmonton isn’t just going to swap one goalie for another unless it’s a clear upgrade. And right now, they seem content to stick with Skinner through the season-at least unless something dramatic changes.
Connor Clattenburg Making His Case
If you’re looking for a bright spot in Edmonton right now, look no further than Connor Clattenburg. Originally brought up to inject some physicality into the bottom six, Clattenburg has done more than just throw his weight around-he’s making a real impact on both ends of the ice.
In just three games, he’s posted a goal, 11 penalty minutes, 14 hits, and an expected goals rate of 2.2 per 60 minutes. That’s not just energy-those are tangible contributions. He’s expected to stay in the lineup over David Tomasek for the Oilers’ next game against Minnesota, and if he keeps playing like this, it’s going to be tough to send him back down.
The emergence of Clattenburg adds another layer of intrigue when the roster gets healthy. With veterans possibly losing ice time, the Oilers may have to make some hard choices sooner rather than later.
Injury Setbacks Continue to Sting
Unfortunately, the Oilers can’t seem to catch a break on the injury front. Just when it looked like Kasperi Kapanen was ready to return, he suffered a setback during practice-one that clearly left him frustrated.
As he left the ice, visibly angry, he smashed several sticks on his way to the dressing room. It was a tough scene for a player who’s been grinding to get back.
Kapanen is now expected to miss several more weeks. And if that wasn’t enough, Jack Roslovic is also sidelined with an injury of his own. That’s two key forwards out of the mix for the foreseeable future, further testing Edmonton’s already-thin depth.
There is some good news, though. Defenseman Jake Walman is back on the ice and appears to be trending toward a return. His presence on the blue line would be a welcome addition for a team that’s been searching for consistency on the back end.
Goalie Market Watch: Tristan Jarry on the Radar?
Just as things were starting to settle down, Kevin Weekes reignited the rumor mill with a tweet linking the Oilers to Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry. According to Weekes, Edmonton has shown “significant interest” in the two-time All-Star, who has local ties from his days with the Edmonton Oil Kings.
It’s a name that certainly makes sense. Jarry has the credentials, and the Oilers’ goaltending situation has been under a microscope all season.
But despite the buzz, nothing appears imminent. Friedman later clarified that Edmonton isn’t in a rush to make a move in net, and unless the right deal presents itself, they’re likely to stand pat for now.
Still, when Weekes links a player to a team, it’s worth paying attention. This could be something to monitor as the trade deadline approaches.
Where Do the Oilers Go From Here?
So where does that leave the Oilers as we head deeper into December? Stuck in the middle of a season that hasn’t gone according to plan-but not yet in full crisis mode.
The front office is staying patient. The coaching staff is still evaluating.
And a few young players, like Clattenburg, are giving the team something to think about.
But the margin for error is getting smaller with each passing week. If Edmonton wants to be more than just a team with a couple of superstars and a lot of questions, they’ll need to start finding answers soon-whether they come from within or via the trade market.
For now, it’s status quo in Oil Country. But in the NHL, that can change in a hurry.