The Edmonton Oilers are still searching for a solution between the pipes.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a multi-year saga for the Oilers\u2019 goaltending situation, and GM Stan Bowman is expected to make some sort of move at the position this summer. Free agency is one avenue the Oilers could go down, and there are a few intriguing names<\/a> looking for new homes, but a trade feels like a better bet.<\/p>\n There appear to be a few more encouraging options on the trade market this offseason when it comes to goaltenders. Names like Connor Hellebuyck, Jordan Binnington, Samuel Montembeault, and Elvis Merzlikins have all been floated out there in trade rumours early into the summer.<\/p>\n Edmonton likely doesn\u2019t have the assets to pull off a Hellebuyck move, so Bowman will likely have to take a swing at someone on that lower level.<\/p>\n NHL insider Frank Seravalli was asked on Monday\u2019s edition of OilersNow<\/a> to give his best guess on who the Oilers would acquire over the next few days, and he gave one of those names.<\/p>\n \u201cMy best guess would be in net, Elvis Merzlikins,\u201d Seravalli told Bob Stauffer. \u201cI don\u2019t know exactly how it\u2019s going to play out\u2026 I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s definitely going to be Edmonton, all I can say is that he is not going to be tending goal for the Columbus Blue Jackets next year.\u201d<\/p>\n Merzlikins being linked to Edmonton is not likely to excite many Oilers fans who are hoping the team can finally put an end to all the goaltending questions.<\/p>\n The team is entering what may be one of the most important seasons in franchise history as they try to convince Connor McDavid to sign long-term in the Alberta capital. So far, they\u2019ve set up that season by hiring controversial head coach Mike Babcock<\/a> and are now being linked to a shaky, at best, goaltender.<\/p>\n Merzlikins once looked like the goalie of the future for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but has fallen out of favour over the past few seasons. The 32-year-old Latvian netminder has put up save percentages of .883, .892, and .897 over the past three seasons.<\/p>\n