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With Cam Talbot out for at least a little while longer, the Oilers are committed to Laurent Brossoit...for now. The Oilers’ backup netminder picked up his first win of the season on Saturday night versus Calgary, but it wasn’t without an especially, uh, interesting third period. The Oilers were cruising to a 6-1 victory when Brossoit yielded four goals in just over seven minutes.
It’s entirely unfair to judge a goaltender based on one game, much less seven minutes of one period. It’s somewhat relevant to note that Brossoit has appeared now in eight games this season, and he’s wielding a somewhat lacklustre .872 SV%. There’s still plenty of season for Brossoit to turn that number around, but will the Oilers give him enough slack in order to right the ship?
If they choose to jump into the goalie market, here’s a small smattering of who is out there.
- CHAD JOHNSON, BUFFALO SABRES
2017 NHL Stats: 11 GP, 1-5-3, .883 SV% / 3.64 GAA
You’re probably looking at those numbers and thinking how that’s not much of an improvement over Brossoit. Take some solace in knowing that Johnson’s career SV% is .913, and he finished his last two years at .910 and .920 respectively. Johnson was signed as a UFA with Buffalo after playing 2016-17 in Calgary. His cap hit is a little high for a backup netminder (2.5MM), but he’s on a one year deal. Buffalo currently has six wins on the season, and is likely to enter ‘seller mode’ soon.
- EDDIE LACK, CALGARY FLAMES
2017 NHL Stats: 4 GP, 1-2-0, .813 SV% / 5.29 GAA
Eddie Lack’s start with the Calgary Flames has, uh, not been good. He’s currently playing for AHL Stockton as he tries to forget the beginning of the season. Lack has a career .909SV%, though his last two years with Carolina saw him barely break .900. The Flames are on the hook for just half of his 2.75MM cap hit as the Hurricanes retain the rest. The Flames are very much alive in the playoff hunt, and might not be ready to part with Lack even though he hasn’t had a very good start.
- RETO BERRA
2017 NHL Stats: 4 GP, 1-1-0, .932 SV% / 2.27 GAA
After a 2016-17 season that saw his numbers take a tumble, Berra is currently with the San Diego Gulls (AHL) in Anaheim. His price tag (700K, one year) and recent numbers (.918 SV% in 2015-16, .922 SV% in 2016-17, both with Colorado) seem to make him a worthwhile gamble.
There are a few other options that the Oilers could take a shot at. Would you rather see the club acquire a goalie, or stick with LB?