Edmonton Oilers at a Crossroads as Speculation Swirls Around a Potential Long-Term Extension for Jake Walman While Concerns Mount Over Goaltender Stuart Skinner’s Struggles and What It Means for the Team’s 2025-26 Season Aspirations

The Edmonton Oilers, once again positioned as a team with championship ambitions, find themselves facing two significant narratives as they prepare for the 2025-26 NHL season. On one hand, there is growing speculation that the organization is closing in on a long-term extension with defenseman Jake Walman, a move that signals an effort to stabilize the blue line and invest in a two-way contributor who fits the team’s evolving style of play. On the other, questions continue to swirl around the inconsistent performance of goaltender Stuart Skinner, whose recent struggles raise serious concerns about whether he can shoulder the responsibilities of a playoff-caliber starter. These twin developments—the hope of securing Walman and the growing uncertainty in the crease—highlight the tightrope the Oilers are walking as they try to push past previous postseason shortcomings and finally deliver on their immense promise.

Jake Walman has quickly emerged as a key target for Edmonton’s front office, with reports suggesting the team is seriously considering locking the 29-year-old defenseman into a long-term deal that could stretch up to eight years. Since arriving via trade from Detroit, Walman has brought mobility, poise, and offensive instincts to a blue line that has long lacked modern puck movers outside of Evan Bouchard. His ability to contribute in transition, skate the puck out of danger, and add offense from the back end has not gone unnoticed by head coach Kris Knoblauch and GM Ken Holland. While the deal is not yet finalized, multiple sources indicate the Oilers are prioritizing Walman’s future within the organization as a reliable second-pairing option who could elevate into more responsibility as needed.

Such a move would reflect a shift in roster construction strategy. Rather than focusing solely on high-profile names or relying heavily on top-heavy minutes from superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers appear to be assembling a more balanced team—one that emphasizes depth, skill, and durability. An eight-year commitment to Walman would signal not just belief in his present-day value but confidence in his long-term ability to contribute meaningfully at both ends of the ice. At a time when the organization is preparing for the possibility of new contract talks with Draisaitl and, eventually, McDavid, ensuring that complementary pieces like Walman are in place is an essential part of the franchise’s broader blueprint.

Financially, a Walman extension would likely come in the range of $4.5 to $5.5 million per year, depending on term structure and performance bonuses. While not a top-tier cap hit for a defenseman, it’s a significant investment that reflects the club’s faith in his fit within their system. If the deal is finalized soon, it could serve as a foundation for other pending negotiations while projecting an image of stability, professionalism, and foresight in Edmonton’s front office.

However, the optimism surrounding Walman’s potential extension stands in stark contrast to the issues currently facing the Oilers in goal. Stuart Skinner, once viewed as the homegrown answer between the pipes, has continued to struggle with inconsistency, particularly in high-leverage situations. Following a turbulent playoff performance in 2025 where he was pulled multiple times in favor of backups, Skinner’s early preseason showings and training camp evaluations have done little to alleviate concerns about his readiness to backstop a contending team. His rebound control, lateral movement, and mental resilience have all come under scrutiny, and the pressure is mounting both internally and externally for the Oilers to make a decision about their goaltending situation sooner rather than later.

What’s most troubling for the Oilers isn’t necessarily the statistical regression—it’s the timing. Skinner is entering a phase of his career where consistency is expected, and after being handed the reins last season, his trajectory was supposed to stabilize. Instead, questions about his preparation, confidence, and even workload management have reemerged. Multiple scouts have noted that while Skinner has shown flashes of brilliance, particularly during regular-season stretches, his inability to string together elite performances in key games is creating doubt. The goaltender position remains the ultimate playoff variable, and in a league where netminders often steal games and series, the Oilers cannot afford mediocrity in the crease.

The team’s backup situation offers little comfort, as internal options lack experience and the free agent market remains thin. Trade speculation has begun to ramp up, with names like John Gibson, Elvis Merzlikins, and even veteran options like James Reimer floated as potential targets. But each comes with its own risks, salary complications, or performance uncertainties. The Oilers are caught in a delicate bind—waiting too long to address their goaltending could derail their season, but overreacting could jeopardize chemistry and long-term cap flexibility.

Kris Knoblauch has publicly expressed support for Skinner, emphasizing the importance of trust and development. Yet, behind closed doors, the coaching staff is undoubtedly weighing alternatives. Confidence is critical in the goaltending position, and if Skinner senses the organization is losing faith, it could further unravel his performance. Conversely, if he responds with a strong October and proves his doubters wrong, the Oilers might be able to settle back into the rhythm they hoped for when they promoted him as the team’s primary starter.

The contrast between Walman’s steadiness and Skinner’s volatility is stark. It underscores the complex nature of team building in the NHL—where some positions can be addressed with data and projection, while others, like goaltending, are subject to intangibles, psychology, and timing. The Oilers are fortunate to have elite offensive production that can often outscore defensive lapses, but playoff hockey is a different beast, and last year’s exit to a structurally sound opponent served as a reminder that goaltending is often the difference between heartbreak and glory.

The front office, then, faces a pivotal month. If they are to finalize Walman’s extension, they must do so with confidence that he represents long-term stability. At the same time, they must be honest with themselves about Skinner’s ceiling. Is he a reliable 1A starter? Or is he best suited to a tandem role, perhaps playing 35–40 games behind a more established veteran presence? If the Oilers wait too long to answer that question, the cost to correct it could be immense—not just financially but in lost playoff opportunities.

As training camp progresses and the regular season nears, all eyes will be on Edmonton. A successful start buoyed by solid goaltending could calm the waters and give Skinner the confidence boost he needs. A rocky beginning, on the other hand, could accelerate trade talks and bring dramatic change to the crease. In either scenario, Jake Walman’s potential extension stands as a positive development, a building block for the franchise’s long-term defense, and a sign that the organization is willing to take care of business early when they identify the right pieces.

The dual storylines of Walman’s contract and Skinner’s struggles encapsulate the current state of the Oilers: a talented, ambitious team that sits on the cusp of greatness but must get every major decision right if they are to break through the Western Conference and finally capture a Stanley Cup in the McDavid era. Success requires more than just stars—it requires structure, depth, and reliability at every position. Jake Walman may be part of the answer. Whether Stuart Skinner can be is the question that remains, and the clock is ticking for Edmonton to find out.