Samuel Jonsson (Tobias Eriksson) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/4c634023-3054-4210-b2ef-2272303b6daf.avif] Samuel Jonsson (Tobias Eriksson) EDMONTON – Scouting and development are vital. Organizations like the Edmonton Oilers [https://www.nhl.com/oilers/] need to be leaders in the NHL in scouting and developing, particularly the latter more than the former. Without having the draft capital to bring in blue-chip prospects, it places a higher emphasis on developing the talent they currently have. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. Enter new goalie coach, Peter Aubry [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=67500]. He’s not the flashy hire that Sean Burke [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=674] or Ian Clark [https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/1222/ian-clark] would have been. However, just because a candidate doesn’t have extensive experience at the same level doesn’t mean they can’t be effective. TRENDING OILERS STORIES Oilers Spunky Defender Has Earned New Deal [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/1cff7f54-fc33-4aca-842e-90294bcccdd5.webp] Oilers Spunky Defender Has Earned New Deal EDMONTON – It’s been a busy offseason. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-spunky-defender-has-earned-new-deal] Oilers Goalie Depth Chart Heading Into New Year [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-goalie-depth-chart-heading-into-new-year] REPORT: Oilers Ready To Name McFarland As New Assistant [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/report-oilers-ready-to-name-mcfarland-as-new-assistant] 5 Oilers Goalie Targets That Are Big Upgrades [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/5-oilers-goalie-targets-that-are-big-upgrades] Oilers Coach Gets Big Promotion With New Team [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-coach-gets-big-promotion-with-new-team] Oilers Complete 2025 Offseason Guide: Trades, Signings, & More [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f273d2fc-629c-446c-b1bc-db9108b3cb84.webp] Oilers Complete 2025 Offseason Guide: Trades, Signings, & More EDMONTON – The offseason is in full swing. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-complete-2025-offseason-guide-trades-signings-more] After all, Kris Knoblauch’s closest sniff at an NHL head coach position was being an assistant NHL coach [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=28832] for the Philadelphia Flyers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers] eight years ago. While the jury is out regarding how Aubry could help the likes of Stuart Skinner [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/oilers-stuart-skinner-5-potential-trade-destinations], there is another goalie (or two) who could benefit from the Oilers' newest hire. EUROPEAN GOALIES HAVE ADJUSTED WELL UNDER AUBRY Aubry has a history of helping European goaltenders acclimate to the smaller North American ice surface. The European goalies he worked with during his time with the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks] organization have seen an uptick in their performances and results. Kevin Lankinen and Arvid Soderblom are the two goalies in question. Lankinen is probably the biggest success story of the two at this point. The Finnish netminder is coming off a 49-game, 25-win regular season with the Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks]. He was heavily leaned upon while Thatcher Demko recovered from several injuries. Kevin Lankinen (Bob Frid-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0bd804ed-aa34-489b-8c2c-e0d547017acc.jpeg] Kevin Lankinen (Bob Frid-Imagn Images) Soderblom has seen a steady increase in workload year after year with the Blackhawks. In 2024-25, he started 33 games, posting a 10-18-7 record to go along with a 3.18 goals against average (GAA), and a .898 save percentage (SV%). It’s also important to keep in mind that the Blackhawks were not a good team, which skews these numbers negatively. Aubry helped Lankinen in many ways. When he first adjusted to playing on the smaller North American rinks, he focused on the fundamentals, which remain the same regardless of the rink size. Arvid Soderblom (Rob Gray-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/94c28cae-5aaf-43e1-befc-6ef9f953b4e6.jpeg] Arvid Soderblom (Rob Gray-Imagn Images) The dimensions between the faceoff dots are the same. However, the distance between the faceoff dots and the boards is shorter. According to Aubry [https://icehogs.com/news/lankinen-adjusting-to-hockey-life-in-north-america#:~:text=Lankinen's%20biggest%20resource%20in%20acclimating%20to%20these,is%20IceHogs%20developmental%20goaltending%20coach%20Peter%20Aubry.], this is where goalies need to be more prepared. NHL players tend to throw the pucks on net more from this position than in Europe. Under Aubry’s tutelage, Soderblom recognized that he needed to focus on his explosiveness and flexibility [https://icehogs.com/news/feature-reichel-soderblom-vlasic-prepare-to-make-jump-from-ahl-to-nhl] to be a great goalie in the NHL. Soderblom also realized that these are traits shared by the best goalies in the NHL. AUBRY COULD BE THE KEY FOR OILERS' GOALIE PROSPECTS Because of his work with Lankinen and Soderblom, it’s easy to trace a connection to the several Oilers goalie prospects who could benefit from his coaching. Samuel Jonsson [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players/oilers-samuel-jonsson-named-goalie-of-the-year], Eemil Vinni, and newly drafted Daniel Salonen are all European goalies in the Oilers system. Aubry could be the key to helping these youngsters fulfill their NHL potential. Aubry’s ability to help Lankinen and Soderblom adjust to the North American rink size, as well as help them assess areas of growth, are the two biggest reasons why Jonsson, Vinni, and Salonen are the biggest winners of this coaching change. The Oilers' goalie prospects just got significantly more interesting. Add us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwn-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] favourites, and never miss a story.
