Jordan Binnington’s name is back in the rumor mill, and the Edmonton Oilers got pulled into the conversation along the way.
On Saturday’s Headlines report, Elliotte Friedman said there was noise around Binnington again. Friedman did not directly tie Edmonton to the goaltender, but guest panelist Erik Johnson did, bringing the Oilers into the mix as a possible landing spot.
That said, there are plenty of reasons the fit looks complicated. Binnington is a UFA and carries a 10-team no-trade list, both of which will limit how many destinations are actually in play.
Edmonton also looks less like a natural match at the moment, with Devon Levi’s play and Tristan Jarry’s bounce-back efforts changing the picture. On top of that, Frederik Andersen is expected back from injury, which means Johnson may have been operating under the idea that the Oilers still needed help in net.
Johnson’s stance was clear: Edmonton should go big if it wants to upgrade, whether that means Binnington or a goalie in that same class, such as Juuse Saros.
The bigger question is whether Binnington still has enough game left to draw serious interest. He appears to have lost the starting job in St.
Louis, and his numbers this season don’t help his case: a 4.27 goals-against average and an .851 save percentage in five games. Those are tough numbers for any team to overlook.
Still, Friedman pointed to Binnington’s track record on the international stage as a reason not to write him off completely. That kind of resume can matter when teams start weighing upside against current form.
For Edmonton, though, any interest would not be immediate. It would only come if the current goaltending situation goes sideways.
So Binnington remains a name to watch, especially with the no-trade list potentially shaping where he can go. The Oilers were mentioned, but the idea of them making a real push doesn’t sound especially likely right now. Later in the segment, Luke Gazdic even teased Johnson for not trusting Devon Levi, and Johnson responded that he does like Levi - he just doesn’t think he can take the Oilers to the promise land.
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If he clears waivers, Leppnen would head to the AHLs Bakersfield Condors, a familiar next step for a player trying to get his game back on track. For the Oilers, the decision keeps the focus on managing depth on defence while waiting to see how the rest of the roster settles in around him. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Goalie Decision As Help Arrives Up Front
The Oilers got a timely lift on both ends of the roster heading into their game against Vancouver, with Devon Levi and Zach Hyman coming off injured reserve. Levi, who was acquired in the offseason and had been handling the crease before his injury, gives Edmonton another option in goal, while Hymans return from a neck injury adds a needed jolt up front after he missed several games.
The roster shuffle to make room for those moves sent Matt Tomkins down to the AHLs Bakersfield Condors, and it leaves Edmonton with a fresh decision in net as the lineup gets healthier. Hymans presence should help the Oilers forward group, but the bigger immediate question is how the team chooses to manage the crease now that Levi is back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]