New Oilers Trade Could Become a Dream Come True

Could Juuse Saros Be the Missing Piece to Spark Edmonton’s Season?

The Edmonton Oilers may be about to experience something great—or face another disappointing season—based on their upcoming decisions. Even though they are only one point away from the last Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, the Oilers have had a tough time being consistent early in the season. Now, there’s a new rumor going around that has fans excited: could trading for star goalie Juuse Saros really turn things around for them?

NHL expert Jeff Marek believes the Oilers should think seriously about trading for the goalie from the Nashville Predators. While talking on the Oilersnation Everyday podcast, Marek pointed out that if Nashville continues to struggle, GM Barry Trotz may need to reconsider what’s next for Saros with the team.

“You can’t expect a player to go through two rebuilding phases,” Marek said. “If Nashville is starting fresh, Trotz needs to talk to Saros about what’s ahead. And for the Oilers, why not reach out? ”

Saros, who Nashville picked in the 2013 draft, is known as one of the most dependable goalies in the NHL. With a career 2.69 GAA and . 914 save percentage, he has always given the Predators a good chance to win in almost every game. The Finnish goalie is in the first year of a big eight-year deal worth $7.74 million per year, which could complicate any trade—but it’s not impossible.

At the same time, Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin described Saros as a “dream target” for Edmonton, mentioning that Nashville might only consider trades if their season falls apart completely. “If the Predators decide to rebuild,” Larkin mentioned, “expect lots of teams, including the Oilers, to show interest. ”

Right now, Saros has a 2.88 GAA and . 902 save percentage after 13 games, which is better than many in the league. On the other hand, Edmonton’s Stuart Skinner has a 2.54 GAA and . 899 save percentage, while backup Calvin Pickard is behind with a 3.42 GAA and . 850 save percentage.

While Skinner is performing decently, adding Saros would be a significant improvement and could create a strong goalie duo—something Edmonton really needs if they are serious about winning the Stanley Cup this season.