The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vancouver Canucks added to the NHL’s goalie moves this off-season.
In Vancouver, the duo of star Thatcher Demko and understudy Kevin Lankinen meant the Canucks felt comfortable trading Arturs Silovs to the Penguins. At the beginning of the month, Pittsburgh’s rival, the Philadelphia Flyers, added Dan Vladar to help address the team having the worst save percentage in the NHL this past season.
With that said, there are other goalie tandems that have significant questions about them. Here are three teams’ netminding pictures and what’s so intriguing about them.
1. Will Newcomer Silovs Thrive In Pittsburgh – And Take Pressure Off Jarry And Blomquist?
On Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired youngster Arturs Silovs from the Canucks in exchange for AHL winger Chase Stillman and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
The move comes at a time when the Penguins’ goaltending has been anything but dependable. The 24-year-old Silovs came off a career season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, where he powered the team to the Calder Cup championship as playoff MVP.
Unfortunately for Silovs, he’ll play behind a Pens squad whose defense has been porous, and it could get worse if Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas trades away star Erik Karlsson. But if Silovs can come in and provide some above-average netminding, he’ll take the heat off veteran Tristan Jarry, whose past season was so rough at times that he cleared waivers and played 12 games in the AHL. Jarry’s contract has three years left at a $5.375-million cap hit per season, so unless he rebounds, he may become one of the NHL’s most highly paid backups if things work out well with Silovs.
There will also be competition from 23-year-old goalie Joel Blomqvist, who played 15 NHL games and put up an. 885 save percentage and 3.81 goals-against average this past season. But as it stands, Silovs will have every opportunity to win the starter’s job and secure a major pay raise when he becomes an RFA next summer.
Time will tell if he’s the long-term solution in net for the Pens, but Silovs’ acquisition should inspire some confidence that things will get better between the pipes in Pittsburgh.
2. Who Will Get More Playing Time In Toronto – Stolarz Or Woll?
The Maple Leafs had a terrific duo of Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll this past season. Stolarz posted a .926 save percentage and 2.14 goals-against average in 34 games, and Woll put up a .909 SP and 2.73 GAA in 42 appearances.
Leafs coach Craig Berube will likely lean on Woll and Stolarz equally in 2025-26. The only reason Stolarz didn’t play more often last season was due to injury. So long as he and Woll stay healthy, there’s no reason to expect either one will get significantly more playing time than the other. Being a 1A-1B tandem this past season worked.
If there is any added motivation, it’ll be for Stolarz, who is coming into a contract season. Toronto GM Brad Treliving has more than enough cap space in the years ahead to re-sign Stolarz, but at a time when the goalie market isn’t deep at all, it may make more sense for Stolarz to be patient and go to market next summer. Regardless, there may be no more equally balanced tandem in the league than the one in Leafs Land. Toronto’s players can be confident with either goalie in net.
3. Will The Oilers Really Run It Back With Skinner And Pickard?
The Edmonton Oilers made it to two Stanley Cup finals with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. That’s the positive view, at least.
The pessimistic view is that they’ve lost two Cup finals with Skinner and Pickard, who each had a sub-.900 save percentage in the playoffs. In the regular season, Skinner had a .896 SP and 2.81 GAA, while Pickard had a .900 SP and 2.71 GAA.
If any team had the impetus to change up their netminding situation, it’s Edmonton.
However, instead of trading for a veteran, such as former Anaheim Ducks veteran and new Detroit Red Wings starter John Gibson, the Oilers stood pat with Skinner and Pickard so far. That may drive Edmonton fans to ruin if the Oilers stick with the same duo for a third straight season and once again are not able to get to the promised land.
The Oilers are basically capped out at the moment, and that may be what’s behind their decision not to make a change in goal. But we’ve got a hunch Edmonton GM Stan Bowman will let patience be a virtue and revisit the issue during the regular season. At that point, injuries and other trades may free up valuable cap space, and some teams may be more willing to make a trade for a goalie by then. But there are no other viable goaltending options on the free-agent front, and unless Bowman has some sort of trick up his sleeve, the Oilers will start the year with the same duo in net.
Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.