The Edmonton Oilers pulled off a relatively unexpected run to the Western Conference Finals last season. And while they ultimately got swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Colorado Avalance, that doesn't take away from the progress that the Oilers made during the 2021-22 season.
With stars player Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, Edmonton has a shot to win any game they take the ice for. The problem is that the depth behind them all over the roster is iffy at best.
One of the Oilers biggest weaknesses came in between the sticks at goalie. They relied heavily on a combination of Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen last season, with Smith eventually taking over for most of the postseason. The 40 year old Smith held his own, but it's worth noting that the Oilers gave up at least four goals in each game of their Western Conference Finals series against the Avs.
Adding a goalie was a top priority for Edmonton this offseason, and they wasted no time addressing the position in free agency. They quickly agreed to terms with former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jack Campbell. Campbell was considered the top goalie on the market, so this clearly a big win for the Oilers.
The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with Free Agent goaltender, Jack Campbell. 5 years. $5 million AAV.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 13, 2022
While this doesn't solve all of Edmonton's issues, getting some stability in goal moving forward will be a huge help. It also shows that the front office is determined in building a championship team around their star duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The Oilers are off to a great start in free agency with their addition of Campbell and their re-signing of Evander Kane. There's still work to be done, but it's clear Edmonton is committed to building a Cup contender for next season.
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