On Tuesday's episode of Oilers Now, host Bob Stauffer strongly suggested that veteran Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram may be heading to the Ottawa Senators. Stauffer, known as Edmonton's 'Master of Whispers,' said: 'I think there's a chance that Ingram potentially ends up in Ottawa. I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Ottawa.'
Stauffer's Signal Carries Weight
Stauffer's comment is seen as a substantive indication of a potential trade. The Oilers are currently deciding on a backup goalie for the upcoming season, with Ingram and Tristan Jarry as candidates. Ingram served as the main starter last year but was pulled from games, including a January 2026 matchup against the Washington Capitals.
Despite Ingram outperforming Jarry by a wide margin last season, the Oilers appear to be moving on from Ingram. Jarry, who has two years left on his contract at $5.375 million per year, was injured early in his tenure and never fully recovered. However, Jarry has been an above-average goalie historically, similar to Ingram's performance last year.
Valiquette's Praise for Ingram
Former NHL goalie and Clear Sight Analytics leader Steve Valiquette spoke highly of Ingram in late April. He noted that before Ingram's down 2024-25 season, when he entered the NHL's Player Assistance Program for the second time, Ingram was one of the league's top goalies. Ingram posted a .907 save percentage over two seasons with Arizona.
Valiquette said: 'Three years ago, before he went through his stuff, he was one of the top 10 goalies in the league when he was with Arizona at the time. I think that Edmonton recognized the talent there, and what he's doing is he's not allowing the bad goal, and he's not allowing the mid-danger goal more than he should.' He added that Ingram's goaltending was 'two goals better than league average' and compared him to Stanley Cup winners like Antti Niemi and Adin Hill.
Oilers' Goaltending Dilemma
If neither goalie were under contract, the Oilers might choose to keep Ingram over Jarry. However, Jarry's contract and potential rebound make him the likely starter. The Oilers now need a reliable backup, with options including trading for Detroit prospect Sebastian Cossa or signing free agent Sergei Bobrovsky on a short-term deal.
