Oilers' Goalie Shuffle Creating Development Logjam in the Pipeline
There’s no sugarcoating it-goaltending has been a point of concern for the Edmonton Oilers this season. Stuart Skinner has been inconsistent, and backup Calvin Pickard hasn’t exactly instilled confidence. That uncertainty between the pipes at the NHL level has started to ripple through the organization, and the effects are being felt all the way down in the minors.
Back on October 1, the Oilers made a move to shore up their depth, acquiring veteran netminder Connor Ingram from Utah. It was a clear signal that the organization wasn’t entirely sold on its current tandem and wanted a safety net. But that move, while understandable in the short term, has had a domino effect on the team’s goalie development plan.
The Original Blueprint: A Veteran-Youth Tandem in Bakersfield
Heading into the season, Edmonton appeared to have a clear strategy in place for its AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. The plan was to keep Skinner and Pickard in Edmonton, while veteran Matt Tomkins-31 years old with plenty of pro experience-would hold down the crease in Bakersfield. The idea was for Tomkins to split time with one of the organization's young goalie prospects: 23-year-old Connor Ungar, 21-year-old Samuel Jonsson (a recent signing out of Sweden), or 20-year-old Nathaniel Day from the OHL.
That setup would’ve offered the best of both worlds: a reliable veteran presence in Tomkins to mentor a younger goalie, and valuable AHL minutes against tougher competition to accelerate development. It’s the kind of structure that helps build NHL-ready goalies-not just in skill, but in confidence and mental toughness.
Enter Ingram, Exit Development Plan
But once Ingram was brought in, the entire plan shifted. Instead of pairing Tomkins with a young prospect, Bakersfield now has two seasoned veterans sharing the net. That left Ungar, Jonsson, and Day all bumped down to the ECHL, where Edmonton has a development agreement with the Fort Wayne Komets.
To be clear, all three prospects are getting playing time in Fort Wayne. But they’re not getting what the Oilers had likely hoped for: AHL-level competition and daily mentorship from a seasoned pro like Tomkins. That’s a significant developmental gap, especially for young goalies who need to be challenged to grow.
The ECHL Gap: A Step Down in Competition
So, how big is the drop-off in competition between the AHL and ECHL? Let’s look at some numbers that paint a pretty clear picture.
Take Jayden Grubbe, a 22-year-old center who played 62 games for Bakersfield last season, putting up two goals and 14 points. This year in Fort Wayne? He’s already at four goals and 13 points in just 18 games.
Brady Stonehouse, 21, went pointless in seven games with Bakersfield last season. Now in Fort Wayne, he’s tallied three goals and eight points in 18 games.
And James Stefan, 22, had three goals and no assists in 45 games with Bakersfield last year. In the ECHL, he’s exploded for 10 goals and 17 points in just 18 contests.
Those numbers don’t just suggest a softer league-they scream it. The ECHL is a valuable developmental tool, no doubt, but it’s a different level of play. For young goalies, the speed, shot quality, and systems play in the AHL are far more representative of what they’ll face if they ever crack an NHL roster.
Looking Ahead: A Bottleneck That Needs Unclogging
Right now, the Oilers have three goalie prospects all essentially stuck at the same level, missing out on the kind of AHL experience that can make or break a young netminder’s trajectory. It’s a tough spot-Edmonton needed insurance at the NHL level, and Ingram provides that. But the cost is felt in the development pipeline, where opportunity and ice time are everything.
Unless something changes-whether that’s a trade, injury, or a shake-up in the depth chart-Ungar, Jonsson, and Day will continue to battle it out in Fort Wayne, gaining reps but not necessarily the kind of experience that accelerates their path to the NHL.
In a league where goaltending depth is gold, Edmonton’s current logjam is a situation worth watching. Because while the focus is understandably on the crease in Rogers Place, the real long-term impact might be happening quietly in Fort Wayne.