Caleb Kerney discusses Edmonton Oilers goaltenders Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell. Barring any unforeseen events, the Edmonton Oilers [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/] will enter the 2023-24 season with a goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/player/stuart-skinner-8479973] and Jack Campbell. [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/player/jack-campbell-8475789] It was a tale of two seasons for the netminders - Skinner putting together a Calder Finalist worthy [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/analysis/oilers-skinner-should-win-the-2023-calder-trophy] year and Campbell stumbling out of the gate (despite a winning record). Related: 3 Best Oilers' Moves From This Off-Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/rankings/3-best-oilers-moves-from-this-off-season] There is always a chance that an organization decides to change direction by trading a player they had no prior plan to trade. This could become Campbell's fate if he stumbles out of the gate this year. If that happens, trading for current Montreal Canadiens [https://puckpedia.com/team/montreal-canadiens]' goaltender Casey DeSmith [https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/player/casey-desmith-8479193] may provide the team with another capable goaltender at a much lower price tag. THE CASE AGAINST DESMITH DeSmith has been a stable presence in net, except for the 2022-23 season. In 2022-23 he played 38 games - sporting a 3.17 goals against average (GAA) and a .905 save percentage (SV%). Those metrics were much better than Campbell's 3.41 GAA and .888 SV%. Casey DeSmith [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwODA4MjQ2ODkyNTY5ODA0/usatsi_20267371_168401874_lowres.jpg] Casey DeSmith Going against DeSmith is his age and experience. He is almost a full year older than Campbell, but has played one whole season less than him. Campbell has played 171 games to DeSmith's 134. Being a goaltender can wear on the hips and knees more than the skater positions, so Campbell being younger isn't a small thing. THE CASE FOR DESMITH DeSmith may be older but he has been way more consistent of a performer (outside of the 2022-23 season). Over the three years prior to this last season he had a .914, .912, and a .916 [https://puckpedia.com/player/casey-desmith] SV%. Over the same span Campbell had .914, .921, and .904 [https://puckpedia.com/player/jack-campbell] SV%. DeSmith's GAA has also been more consistent (2.79, 2.54 & 2.75) than Campbell's (2.66, 2.15, 2.80). Casey DeSmith [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwODE1MjA4NzY2MTIxMTY0/usatsi_20337971_168401874_lowres.jpg] Casey DeSmith We see larger differences between the two with Goals Saved Above Average and Really Bad Start percentage. Really Bad Save Percentage (RBS%) is the percentage of the games they have started where they have a save percentage of less than .850. Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) is the number of goals the netminder saves that is more then the average goaltender in the league. Related: Oilers' Skinner Will Not Fall Victim to the Sophomore Slump [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/analysis/oilers-skinner-will-not-fall-victim-to-the-sophomore-slump] Again, we see the consistency that DeSmith brings by looking at these two metrics. RBS% for the three years prior to 2022-23 are 15.4, 15, & 8.3. [https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/players/casey-desmith]Alternatively, Campbell's is 22.4, 9.1, & 15.4. [https://frozenpool.dobbersports.com/players/jack-campbell] The final nail in the coffin - GSAA - before 2022-23 DeSmith had a GSAA of 5.24, 1.96 & 7.28. Campbell's were 9.99, 7.82 & -4.51. Jack Campbell [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4NTg4NTgzOTAzMjQxNjY3/usatsi_19366224_168401874_lowres.jpg] Jack Campbell Campbell may have greater potential than DeSmith, but DeSmith's consistency could be a tremendous asset to the Oilers. As with any decision, pros and cons need to be assessed to reach a conclusion. If this is a trade that the Oilers could pull off, I don't see why they wouldn't do it. However, Ken Holland has spoken on his satisfaction with the team's goaltending - so don't expect that to change soon. Related: Oilers Bourgault Influenced By NHL Great [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/news/oilers-bourgault-influenced-by-nhl-great] Related: Oilers Could Have Drafted Maple Leafs Top Goalie Prospect [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/oilers-could-have-had-maple-leafs-top-goalie-prospect] Related: Newly Acquired Oiler Could Be the Final Piece Needed For a Stanley Cup [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/opinion/newly-acquired-oiler-could-be-the-final-piece-needed-for-a-stanley-cup] Related: Oilers' Key Defenders Need To Step Up This Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/analysis/oilers-key-defenders-need-to-step-up-this-season]
