Former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk believes the Edmonton Oilers cannot afford to ignore their goaltending problems any longer, and he pointed directly at Filip Gustavsson as a possible offseason solution.
Speaking recently about Edmonton’s unstable crease situation, Dubnyk said the organization needs more than another attempt at “running it back” after a disappointing 2025-26 season ended in a first-round playoff exit.
“Something needs to change there so that the narrative can get away from the goaltending thing,” Dubnyk said. “Right now it’s a tough spot.”
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The Oilers entered the season expecting another Stanley Cup push after consecutive Final appearances. Instead, their gamble to overhaul the crease during the year backfired badly. Edmonton traded Stuart Skinner, Brett Kulak, and a draft pick to acquire Tristan Jarry in December, hoping the two-time All-Star could stabilize the position.
Instead, injuries and poor form made matters worse.
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Edmonton Oilers’ crease instability derailed another contender
Jarry struggled almost immediately after arriving in Edmonton. He suffered a lower-body injury one week after the trade and never regained consistency, finishing with a 3.86 goals-against average and an .858 save percentage in 19 games with the Oilers.
Connor Ingram eventually became the club’s most reliable option, posting a 2.60 GAA and .899 save percentage, but Edmonton still lacked elite playoff goaltending. During the postseason, the Oilers combined for a brutal .880 save percentage while allowing 4.33 goals per game in their series loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
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Dubnyk believes Gustavsson could immediately change both the production and the perception surrounding Edmonton’s crease.
“Now, if you want a different look at it, what I would be looking at, and again, I’m not a GM, so take away all the what you have to do for salary cap and all of this kind of stuff, but I’d be seriously considering knocking on the door of the Minnesota Wild and see if they would consider moving Filip Gustavsson,” Dubnyk said.
“Because I think if you got a guy like Filip Gustavsson, that’s a bona fide starting goaltender who could then take the narrative away from all of the goaltending stuff in Edmonton.”
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Why Filip Gustavsson could fit Edmonton Oilers’ timeline?
Gustavsson quietly delivered another strong season for the Minnesota Wild in 2025-26. The 27-year-old posted a 28-15-6 record with a 2.69 GAA, .904 save percentage, and four shutouts across 50 appearances.
Dubnyk also pointed toward Jesper Wallstedt’s emergence in the playoffs as a reason Minnesota could at least listen to trade discussions.
“Jesper Wallstedt really emerged as a superstar goaltender,” Dubnyk said. “That opened up potentially an opportunity to at least go ask questions.”
Edmonton’s urgency is obvious. Connor McDavid enters the first year of his new two-year $25 million contract, and the Oilers cannot afford another season undermined by uncertainty in net.
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Gustavsson would not solve every defensive issue, but he would give Edmonton something it lacked all season — stability.
