The Edmonton Oilers are yet again poised to enter a season with Stuart Skinner as their number one option in net.
Despite his inconsistencies and speculation about the team acquiring someone to replace him, it will be the fourth consecutive campaign where the hometown kid is expected to shoulder a heavy workload.
That is, if he performs to the level the Oilers are hoping for, otherwise, Stan Bowman will need to turn up the heat on his pursuit of a goaltender.
Nothing changed at the position this summer, but if things aren’t going according to plan in Edmonton to start the season, then expect an outside acquisition to be made.
Plenty of names have been thrown around as targets for the Oilers, though clearly none good enough to truly pique their interest. However, there is one three-time Stanley Cup-winning free agent they could attempt to lure out of retirement in Marc-Andre Fleury, and Allan Mitchell of The Athletic says the Flower should be on their radar.
“Finally, Marc-Andre Fleury is still on the radar for all Stanley Cup contenders, via Pierre LeBrun, and it would make a lot of sense for the Oilers. NHL history is rich with stories of retired goaltenders re-entering the battle and performing brilliantly,” Mitchell wrote.
New for @TheAthleticNHL Could the Edmonton Oilers make a trade before the regular season begins?https://t.co/Mhpc8peGPY
— Lowetide (@Lowetide) September 29, 2025
The 40-year-old went 14-9-1 in 22 starts last season for the Minnesota Wild, where he logged a 2.93 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage, and pitched one shutout.
Insider suggested not to count out a MAF return
While Marc-Andre Fleury is retired as of this moment, the legendary netminder’s phone could be busy come the New Year, and it might be tough to turn down an opportunity to compete for a Stanley Cup.
TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun had this to say on X (formerly Twitter) in response to a video of Fleury practicing with his old Penguins teammates last weekend.
“So I will just say this: I believe teams will try to convince Fleury out of retirement in January. I don’t know what he will say, but I am telling you teams will call, 100 percent,” LeBrun wrote.
So I will just say this: I believe teams will try to convince Fleury out of retirement in January. I don’t know what he will say, but I am telling you teams will call, 100 percent. https://t.co/t7Vm3o43iw
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 27, 2025
Not to mention all of the teasing his agent, Allan Walsh, has done on social media when it comes to a potential return.
It’s probably unlikely at this point in time, but if Fleury is feeling bored in January and gets a call from a team like the Edmonton Oilers, it will be fascinating to see if he accepts the offer.
