Oilers Secure Connor Ungar with New Contract
The Edmonton Oilers have locked in their top-performing minor league goaltender, Connor Ungar, with a fresh one-year deal. The 24-year-old Calgary native signed a one-year, two-way contract carrying an average annual value of $850,000.
Ungar, who stands 6'2" and weighs 205 pounds, split the 2025-26 season across three ECHL clubs and the Oilers' AHL affiliate in Bakersfield. Originally signed by Edmonton out of Brock University in 2024, he started the season with the ECHL's Greensboro Gargoyles. His consistent ECHL play earned him call-ups to Bakersfield starting in mid-December, where he made 13 starts and posted a 9-2-2 record with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. He recorded his first AHL shutout in January with a 25-save performance against the Ontario Reign and won his first six starts with the Condors.
Analysis of the Signing
1. A Key Move for the Oilers' Pipeline
This is Edmonton's first major player personnel move of summer 2026. While Ungar is older for a prospect and spent most of last season in the ECHL, he outperformed every other goalie in the Oilers' farm system and showed promise in the AHL. Letting him go without seeing if he can dominate the AHL in 2026-27 would have been a mistake.
2. Goalie Situation Last Season
The Oilers' goaltending was chaotic last year. Lacking trust in Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, general manager Stan Bowman traded for Utah goalie Connor Ingram, who became Edmonton's best netminder in 2025-26. However, Ingram's arrival forced Pickard to the AHL, where veteran Matt Tomkins (age 31) was already playing. This left Bakersfield with two 30-something goalies, neither close to being Edmonton's goalie of the future. Young prospects Ungar, Samuel Jonsson, and Nathaniel Day were stuck in the ECHL, a poor development model.
3. Future Plans
The Oilers are betting on Jarry rebounding from a poor season and playing well in the final two years of his NHL deal. Ingram may leave as a free agent. Tomkins has one more year on his AHL contract, which isn't ideal. Ideally, Edmonton would create openings for two of Ungar, Jonsson, or Day. Both Ungar and Jonsson excelled in the ECHL last year and are ready for the AHL.
4. Additional Moves
There is talk of Edmonton bringing in another NHL-level goalie to pair with Jarry. This seems like a good plan, though it's unclear why the team is moving on from Ingram, who provided steady goaltending in 2025-26. The situation may become clearer after Bowman completes his goalie moves this summer. For now, retaining Ungar is promising. He earned another contract, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him get NHL games this coming season.
