What’s occurring with the Oilers’ goaltending state of affairs?

Welcome again to a different version of McKenna and Quadrelli, a sequence wherein veteran professional goaltender Mike McKenna and David Quadrelli diagnose and look at goaltending storylines across the hockey world.

In our first installment, we broke down Nashville Predators prospect Yaroslav Askarov’s game, and right here, we discuss in regards to the Edmonton Oilers’ goaltending state of affairs.

Quadrelli: OK, let’s begin proper off the hop right here. Followers in Edmonton are hoping that Stuart Skinner could be a Jordan Binnington-type savior for them. Do you see any similarities or probabilities that really occurs?

McKenna: Certain, there’s an opportunity Skinner is available in and runs with it, however I don’t suppose it’s as probably as Binnington’s unbelievable run for a number of causes. First, Binnington spent five-and-a half-years grinding within the minors and had stable numbers in all of them. He was by no means beneath a .900 save proportion, and he had flashes of dominance. But for no matter purpose, the Blues didn’t give him an opportunity.

Skinner didn’t actually discover success within the minor leagues till final season. I noticed him play a number of video games for the Bakersfield Condors, and he caught my eye. I noticed potential. After a number of middling seasons shuttling between the ECHL and AHL, it appeared like he’d lastly hit his stride.

I haven’t seen the consistency — or swagger — out of Skinner in the identical manner Binnington confirmed early in his NHL profession, however proper now, I do suppose Skinner is likely to be one of the best goalie within the Oilers’ system.

Quadrelli: What about his sport catches your eye and goes to make Stuart Skinner a profitable goalie? Is his sport going to be complemented or damage by the Oilers’ protection?

McKenna: I feel Skinner has a extremely good command of the technical facet of his sport. He’s considered along with his depth and barely strays outdoors the blue paint. That’s good. It means he’s often sq. to the shooter. His post-integrations are well-oiled and efficient. He principally performs between the posts, which lets him use that large 6-foot-4 body.

In order that’s all good for when the Oilers are defending in their very own zone. Skinner is a extra aggressive than Mike Smith with regards to depth, however that’s most goalies within the NHL. Skinner likes to have his toes across the high of the crease.

What I’m involved with is rush probabilities towards. Skinner doesn’t play with a lot backward circulation, and due to that, he can get flat-footed. That’s not splendid when going through an odd-man rush. He may be trusted if the puck service elects to shoot, however any lateral move will probably be laborious for Skinner to catch as much as as a result of he has little backward or diagonal momentum.

Quadrelli: Is that this one thing in your expertise and information is comparatively coachable and fixable? Or will this be a vice for him for a very long time?

McKenna: It’s teachable, however the goaltender – in addition to his goaltending coach – has to consider in it. That’s what I can’t say for sure if Skinner would adapt to having extra skating in his sport. He’s an environment friendly skater however not an important one. Can he push his sport additional in that regard? I consider it could make him extra dynamic.

I’m not advocating for Skinner to make drastic adjustments. Backwards circulation doesn’t imply the identical factor it did even 10 years in the past, when goalies would roam a number of ft outdoors of the crease on rush probabilities. Backward circulation by at present’s customary actually simply means releasing the sides and slowly drifting backwards to just accept the push. I feel it could assist him.

Quadrelli: Attention-grabbing. Now, let’s discuss that goaltending state of affairs as a complete. To me, the Oilers’ greatest probabilities at turning this round are if Mike Smith can someway flip it round. That simply looks like a tall ask of a 39-year-old goaltender. 

Probably the most real looking possibility appears to be Skinner. How do you view the state of affairs and their greatest possibilities of getting out of this?

McKenna: I agree, David. Though I do like Skinner and need he’d get extra of an opportunity. Mike Smith was unimaginable final season, and he’s up to date his sport in recent times. That’s admirable, particularly for a goaltender as late in his profession as Smith. However his well being is a significant concern. The 2021-22 season is midway over, and he’s solely performed six video games.

Including gasoline to the hearth, Smith didn’t appear to be himself towards St. Louis and New Jersey in late December. A few of it’s in all probability simply rust from the day without work, however it’s important to surprise if he’s combating by damage.

To me all of it will depend on Smith’s well being and if he can get again to kind. I like Skinner, however I’m unsure he’s prepared for the second. His NHL pattern measurement is small, however he’s additionally been comparatively constant and stolen a number of wins. A few of his greatest video games have been when he confronted a whole lot of photographs. That’s encouraging.

Regardless that the season is lower than midway over, there isn’t a lot time to get this found out. Smith must get going within the subsequent two weeks, and the Oilers want to determine the Koskinen state of affairs instantly

Quadrelli: And what did you make of Dave Tippett and Mikko Koskinen’s feedback?

McKenna: It’s fairly easy for me. The bridge between Tippett and Koskinen has been burned. Even when they talked it out, that resentment will linger. Koskinen is aware of his time is up in Edmonton. I took Tippett’s feedback as a shot to Ken Holland, mainly saying, “I can’t win with this man.” Tippett additionally referred to Koskinen as “our goaltender” moderately than his title. Once more, unhealthy messaging.

I like that Koskinen stood up for himself whereas taking possession of his personal play. He struggled towards the Rangers, however he was additionally proper when he stated that the crew hasn’t scored sufficient in entrance of him. Clearly he’d had sufficient of being the whipping boy on an underperforming crew.