The Edmonton Oilers are not interested in overpaying in a trade for a goalie, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday.
The Oilers, whose struggles lately have been blamed mostly on the goaltending of fragile No. 1 Mike Smith and backup Mikko Koskinen, are reportedly seeking a goalie to bolster their chances of making the playoffs. Heading into Saturday’s Battle of Alberta tilt with the Calgary Flames, the Oilers were 18-16-2, good for 13th in the conference.
“A lot of Oiler fans are wondering if they will make a move for a goaltender,” Friedman said. “The easiest thing to say is, if you can think of someone who might have been available, the Oilers checked into it this week.”
But even though Oilers GM Ken Holland might have been working the phones, the price has to be right, Friedman said.
“There’s a couple of things here,” Friedman said. “First of all, money has to go out. And secondly, I think if the Oilers could’ve done something for a late-round pick this week, they would’ve done it. They’re not crazy about giving up their first (round pick), and they’re not even thrilled about giving up the second or third. … I think right now Edmonton is just saying, ‘Look, if we can’t do it inexpensively, or not do it for one of our top picks or prospects,’ they’re just not crazy about doing it.”
Rumoured to be a good fit for the Oilers is Karel Vejmelka of the Arizona Coyotes, who’s having a good season (.910 save percentage) on a bad team, but Friedman said that doesn’t look likely.
“Now one name people were wondering about was Karel Vejmelka from Arizona who’s having a magnificent season out of nowhere,” Friedman said. “I don’t think he’s even available, I think the Coyotes are trying to extend him or start talks with him in the very near future.”
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