EDMONTON – Goalies are voodoo.

Many hockey fans (Edmonton Oilers fans included) don’t have a complete understanding of the goaltending position. It’s an intensely difficult position to wrap your mind around – especially if you haven’t played.

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Luckily, there are individuals out there who don’t share that belief. Many players discuss the influence of a defensive coach or a head coach. Sadly, a goalie coach doesn’t often receive similar recognition, even though their role is equally as important to the success of the team.

The Oilers are primed for some changes in their coaching staff, chief among them being the addition of a new goalie coach. Dustin Schwartz has held the position since 2015. While it’s great to have consistency, perhaps keeping a coach around for 10 years while not winning a Stanley Cup is not a recipe for success?

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There’s a high possibility that the Oilers will run-it-back with the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. If that is the case, these are five candidates the team could pursue to give the players a different voice in their ear who could bring fresh eyes and personalities to the organization.

We’ll categorize the candidates into under-the-radar possibilities and those with extensive experience.

Under-The-Radar Long Shots

These candidates are the ones who have little-to-no experience with previous NHL teams, but offer something unique or have a connection that makes them an intriguing candidate.

Mike Smith

Former NHL goaltender Mike Smith had a storied playing career. He’s taken some time away from the spotlight, and he could consider making a change to his daily routine.

Even during his final years in the NHL with the Oilers, Smith was looking at ways to improve his goaltending craft and sharpen his game. Several players have spoken about the positive effect that Smith’s attitude and mentality have had on them. 

Smith has helped mentor the next generation of goaltenders at the Net360 Goalie Camp. He doesn’t have extensive coaching experience, but his personality, and familiarity with the organization (and specifically Skinner) make him an off-the-board pick who could be a great first time NHL goalie coach.

Adam Francilia

Adam Francilia is already familiar with Skinner. He has been working with the Oilers netminder in the offseason. Most famously, he was name-dropped during the conference finals last playoffs. 

Francilia focuses on biomechanics and positioning. This is one area where he helped Skinner during the 2023-24 regular season. 

Francilia has previous experience working with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. He currently works in player development at the Alpha Hockey agency, where Skinner is currently represented. He has worked with Thatcher Demko, Connor Hellebuyck, James Reimer, and Mike Smith.

His ability to focus on an underrated aspect of goaltending would be a great asset to an organization like the Oilers. However, it’s unknown if he would be willing to leave his current arrangement to become exclusive with an NHL organization.

Justin Cardinal

The last of the potential unknowns who could be a goalie coach option for the Oilers is Justin Cardinal. 

Cardinal is an Alberta-native who runs his own goalie programs. He has experience as a goalie coach in the WHL with the Kootenay Ice and Prince George Cougars.

His biggest claim to fame at this point in his career is being the coach and mentor to two Stanley Cup-winning goaltenders: Vegas Golden Knights goalie duo of Logan Thompson and Adin Hill. (Thompson now plays for the Washington Capitals).

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Goalie Coaches With NHL Experience

There are two options for the Oilers to look at who have experience dealing with NHL goaltenders. It never hurts to take a look at options who have a good deal of directly related experience, and these two certainly fulfill that requirement.

Brian Eklund

Brian Eklund was a volunteer goalie coach in the NCAA for many years. He spent three years with Harvard University before joining Boston University. 

Then Eklund moved on to be an AHL goalie coach, plying his trade to the Utica Coments for the last five seasons.

Steve Briere

Steve Briere has been a professional goalie coach since the 2007-08 season. He began in the NCAA, moved on to the North American Hockey League (NAHL) before hitting the NHL.

Briere first worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a goalie coach for seven years before spending his last three seasons with the Seattle Kraken.

Any of these options have the opportunity to be difference makers for the Oilers organization. Whether it’s a fresh, new voice or someone with a longer history of coaching NHL-level talent, any of these options would be a solid swing for the team.

Goalies are voodoo, but they don’t have to be.

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The NHL announced that beginning in the 2026–27 season, neck guards will be mandatory for any players entering the league from that season onward.

Mandating neck guards in professional ice hockey has been a topic of discussion for a while. The AHL, IIHF, USA Hockey, and other leagues have previously required the use of neck guards. However, until the NHL and NHL Players’ Association agreed to a four-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement last Friday, neck guards remained optional at the NHL level.

Under the new policy, neck guards will remain optional for players who have appeared in an NHL game before the start of the 2026–27 season. Any player who begins their NHL career on or after that date will be required to wear one.

The push for mandatory neck guards gained renewed urgency following the tragic death of former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Adam Johnson. In 2023, Johnson, then playing for England’s Nottingham Panthers, suffered a fatal skate cut to the neck during a game.

Among those advocating most strongly for change is New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald’s advocacy began in earnest after a terrifying experience involving his son, Casey Fitzgerald, who captained the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack in 2023.

On December 28, 2023, during a game against the Providence Bruins, an opponent’s skate clipped Casey’s neck. He skated to the bench, unaware at first that he was bleeding. Though he was wearing a cut-resistant guard, the blade sliced above the protected area, putting him in a potentially life-threatening situation.

Casey received 25 stitches and was back on the ice just days later, but the incident left a lasting impression on his father.

“I don’t wish that on any parent,” Fitzgerald told The Athletic at the time. “My message was just, ‘Tell the players you don’t want your parents potentially going through something like this, how scary it is. Put as much protection on as you possibly can because you’re going to stop playing at some point, and you’re going to have to live the rest of your life … so live it.’”

Following the incident, Fitzgerald became a vocal advocate for mandatory neck protection. He considered requiring neck guards for Devils players, pushed the NHL to implement a league-wide policy, and encouraged other general managers to do the same.

In March 2025, Fitzgerald stood before all 32 NHL general managers and made his case: neck guards should be mandatory.

His efforts paid off.

After the NHL and NHLPA announced the new policy, Fitzgerald told NHL.com, “I think it’s great. To me, it’s no different than the helmet or the half-shield. I just think kids won’t even realize they’re wearing it, just like the helmet and shield for players in the past. I think it’s a great start for the league.”

As of 2025, only 7.7% of NHL players, just 55 out of roughly 700 skaters, wore neck guards.

One of those players is Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, who not only wears a neck guard but manufactures them through his company, Warroad. The brand specializes in protective gear with cut-resistant technology.

“I made my choice for my kids,” Oshie told The Hockey News in 2023. “I want to stick around for 'em.”

Many players cite discomfort and increased sweating as reasons for avoiding neck protection. But Fitzgerald argues that safety must come first.

“If you give players options, they’re going to take them,” he said. “They’re going to say, ‘I haven’t worn it my whole life, so I’m not going to wear it now.’ So don’t give them options.”

Requiring neck guards is a deeply personal victory for Fitzgerald—not just as a general manager, but as a parent.

“Any time you can continue to look after your players, especially young players as they grow into the league, and help them stay protected, and more importantly, educate them on the different types of things out there that can help them, that’s important,” he said.

Photo Credit: Tom Horak - Imagn Images

The Calgary Flames are today's focus in an NHL off-season series examining each team’s prospect pool.

Tony Ferrari digs into the Flames' strengths and weaknesses, latest draft class, positional depth chart and next player in line for an NHL opportunity. A player who no longer holds rookie eligibility in the NHL is considered graduated and no longer a prospect for these exercises.

Initial Thoughts

The Flames are dangerously close to being the definition of a mushy-middle club.

They were poised to start a rebuild a couple of seasons ago, and then they were closer to the playoffs than anyone expected, which made them hesitant to trade some of their prime candidates. This kept them close enough to the playoff picture, but it also kept them from being a true lottery team.

One of the Flames' most exciting prospects is left winger Andrew Basha. He dealt with injuries for most of this past season, but the highly skilled speedster is a wickedly smooth playmaker. His vision and passing make him a lethal offensive threat anytime he is on the ice. Basha is a good shooter as well, which keeps goalies honest. He will head to the AHL this upcoming season, which will put his dynamism and creativity to the test. 

Samuel Honzek had a solid first full season in the AHL and even earned a few NHL games, but he looked a step behind in Calgary.

Honzek has had some ups and downs in his development since being drafted due to injuries and inconsistency, but he brings a nice package of size and playmaking. He uses his frame to protect pucks and imposes himself in battles. He needs to find another level of aggression to ascend to the next level, but positionally and tactically, Honzek has potential. He could sneak into the NHL lineup more consistently this upcoming year. 

When the Flames drafted Aydar Suniev in 2023, they bet on his game rounding out and refining during a couple of years in college. He did just that, becoming a reliable scorer who averaged over a point per game for UMass this past year before signing his entry-level contract and appearing in the Flames’ season finale. 

Suniev is a nifty playmaker who’s creative offensively. His board play is impressive, as he rotates his hips into opposing players to cut the puck off from them. He will need a year or two in the AHL to get his skating up to par, but he has the potential to be a solid middle-six forward. 

Luke Misa is a speedy, shifty playmaker who often drives his line. He was fantastic alongside Porter Martone, Philadelphia’s sixth overall pick in this past draft, taking much of the transition game off his plate and allowing him to play to his game. Misa makes life easy on his linemates, especially when he plays down the middle and has open ice and options to both sides. 

In two seasons in the United States League and a year in the QMJHL, Matvei Gridin showed a blend of offenisve tools with a quick release and some nice playmaking. He often plays a complementary role, and he should generate more scoring chances for himself, but the young Russian has been a nice addition to a Flames prospect pool that desperately needs some scoring punch. 

The Flames added offensive punch to their back end at last year’s draft by picking Zayne Parekh ninth overall. His skills as a playmaker and shooter are wildly impressive. He has some of the most impressive highlights we’ve seen from a defender in a while, and he’s put up over 200 points in the past two OHL seasons. This kid is a lethal offensive player on the blueline. 

Balancing out some of Parekh's all-out offense approach is a trade acquisition, Artem Grushnikov. He’s mobile and physical, understands his role on the team and doesn’t try to play above his head. He won’t offer much up offensively beyond getting the puck to a teammate, but Grushnikov was a nice bet and looks decent in the AHL so far.

Etienne Morin was one of the best two-way defenders in the QMJHL this past season. He showcased his defensive game and physicality alongside his offensive activations and playmaking. He still has some footwork issues at times, which he must clean up as he heads to the AHL, but there are plenty of good traits for Morin to build on.

Aside from Parekh, the Flames have also picked up other solid offensive-minded blueliners.

Hunter Brzustewicz had a solid AHL rookie season with 32 points in 70 games and made his NHL debut. Henry Mews exploded in the OHL this past season, with 82 points in 68 games. Both defenders are excellent breakout passers who love to jump into the rush. Both also have some holes in their defensive play. Brzustewicz will return to the AHL and hone his craft there while Mews is headed to the University of Michigan, where he can train and get stronger against tougher competition.

2025 NHL Draft Class

Round 1, 18th overall - Cole Reschny, C, Victoria (WHL)

Round 1, 32nd overall - Cullen Potter, C, Arizona State University (NCAA)

Round 2, 54th overall - Theo Stockselius, C, Djurgarden Jr. (Swe.)

Round 3, 80th overall - Mace’o Phillips, D, U.S. NTDP (USHL)

Round 5, 144th overall - Ethan Wyttenbach, LW, Sioux Falls (USHL)

Round 6, 176th overall - Aidan Lane, RW, St. Andrews College (Ont. H.S.)

Round 7, 208th overall - Jakob Leander, D, HV71 Jr. (Swe.)

Round 7, 211th overall - Yan Matveiko, LW, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow Jr. (Rus.)

The Flames had one of the best drafts of any team this year, and the strength of their first three picks really carries the bulk of their success.

Although they didn’t have their first-round pick, which they sent to Montreal when they offloaded Sean Monahan’s contract, they wound up with two first-rounders and made some excellent picks. 

Cole Reschny is a highly skilled, incredibly smart playmaking center with all the offensive creativity you’d want. His skating is the biggest concern in his game, but he’s always been able to overcome it thanks to an impressive work rate and a willingness to get into the battle down low or along the wall. He fishes pucks out and finds his linemates with incredible, crafty passes. When he’s in open ice, he shows off slick puckhandling to open more lanes. Reschny is a wildly talented player, and getting him at 18th overall could be a steal. 

With the final pick in the first round, the Flames grabbed Cullen Potter, a center who played for Arizona State as one of the youngest players in college hockey. Potter is one of the most dynamic skaters and clever playmakers in the draft. He is undersized, which is likely what made teams hesitant to draft him, but his offensive mind is among the best in the class.

Potter produced respectable numbers in the NCAA, but his ability to drive play, create chances and generate excellent underlying numbers led many to believe there is more in his game than meets the eye. His teammates often didn’t capitalize on the chances he generated, or they mishandled good passes. Potter could be the biggest steal of the first round. 

At 6-foot-3, second-round pick Theo Stockselius brings some size to the trio of centers atop the Flames’ draft selections. He plays with hard skill in physical situations, creative passing and a high-end motor. Stockselius isn’t the most fleet of foot, but some of the harping on his skating was a bit overblown. Stockselius has shown excellent puck protection and the ability to focus on finding a passing lane, even with a man on his hip. Stockselius will play through contact, which helps mitigate the middling mobility.

Mace’o Phillips is a throwback defender. He loves to engage physically, throwing hits and cross-checks as soon as attacking players enter the defensive zone. Phillips isn’t much of an offensive player, opting to defer to teammates when he gets the puck. His punishing game can get him into some penalty trouble at times, and he can make some mistakes as he chases a hit, but if he can rein in some of his overeager play, he could be a solid defensive stopper. 

Fifth-round pick Ethan Wyttenbach must improve his skating and deal with physicality a bit better. He has decent passing, shooting and puckhandling, and he seems to identify his teammates in open positions quite well. The issue is that sometimes, he falls behind the play a bit and can get pushed around along the boards. For a pick in the second half of the draft, that’s an excellent package to bet on.

Aidan Lane had an interesting path this past year. He played a couple of games in the USHL early in the year, played prep hockey at St. Andrew’s College and then finished in the OHL. As the NCAA eligibility rules changed, he got the opportunity to showcase himself in a few leagues. His game is built on power and his raw offensive tools as a shooter and passer. If Lane can develop a bit more speed, he could be a really interesting depth scoring winger. 

Jakob Leander is a lesser-known prospect, unranked by NHL Central Scouting or any public outlet. He is a big defender who moves fairly well, but he can struggle in moments where lateral agility is needed. He leans a bit, but his game is centered around using his length to disturb the puck carrier’s momentum. He’s a project, but in the seventh round, a 6-foot-4 defender is a decent bet. 

Calgary’s final pick was lanky Russian forward Yan Matveiko. He shows some decent playmaking habits, trying to get the puck to the middle with mixed results. He tries to engage physically, but he often works hard without achieving a positive outcome in puck battles. Much like Leander, Matveiko wasn’t widely scouted, and as a forward who averaged just over half a point per game at the Russian junior level, it’s a swing in the seventh for a low-upside player.

The Calgary Flames And The League Among The Winners And Losers From The 2025 NHL DraftIt almost feels impossible to designate winners and losers on the day that the NHL draft goes down. The whole point of the NHL draft is to build for the future, and with the inexact science that is the NHL draft, no one really knows who won and lost the day the picks are made. 

Strengths

While it could have been considered a weakness a year ago, the Flames did an outstanding job of adding centers with potential to the pipeline. Reschny, Potter, Stockselius and Misa can all potentially make an impact at the next level. They still need to develop, but even if two of the four are centers and the others move to the wing, the Flames must be stoked with how they are looking down the middle moving forward. They already have relatively young players in the NHL, such as Connor Zary and Morgan Frost, who are also potential fits in the middle. 

Weaknesses

The Flames’ prospect pipeline doesn’t have any immediate weaknesses. They have some quality wingers and intriguing blueliners, while, they bolstered the center depth in the draft. 

Although no one stands out in net, Dustin Wolf was just a finalist for the Calder Trophy.

The Flames’ weakness is they don’t have anyone who projects to be “The Guy” at the NHL level. Parekh is close, but his defensive flaws may hold him back from being a true 25-minute-a-night defender in the playoffs, the way the elite of the elite are. That’s the danger of being in the mushy middle, though. It’s very difficult to get that game-breaking talent. 

Hidden Gem: Luke Misa, C/W

Heading to Penn State University after a very successful four-year run in the OHL, Misa is taking advantage of the fantastic opportunity the new CHL-NCAA rules presented him. 

Misa is the exact player who comes to mind when people used to say, “If only Player X could go to college for a couple of years in between junior and pro.” Misa is a bit undersized, but he plays fast, intelligent hockey, which allows him to pick apart opposing teams as a playmaker. His shot has also become a legitimate weapon. Misa was ranked all over the place last year, and teams ultimately passed on him because of his 5-foot-10 frame, but the Flames put their faith into him with a fifth-round pick, and it might be the best pick of the second half of the 2024 NHL draft.

Next Man Up: Zayne Parekh, D

Parekh was one of the most productive blueliners in the last 30 years of major junior hockey. He is a cerebral-minded defenseman who wants to tear apart the other team's defensive structure. He has excellent passing and a great shot. 

Parekh should get every opportunity to make the team in training camp. They could certainly use his high-octane offense. His defense is a work in progress, but if the Flames can take a page out of Montreal’s book from this past year, when they integrated Lane Hutson, the Flames could also have a legitimate Calder Trophy candidate in Parekh. 

Prospect Depth Chart Notables

LW: Andrew Basha, Aydar Suniev, Samuel Honzek, William Stromgren

C: Cole Reschny, Cullen Potter, Theo Stockselius, Luke Misa

RW: Matvei Gridin, Jacob Battaglia, Aidan Lane, Hunter Liang, Jaden Lipinski

LD: Etienne Morin, Artem Grushnikov, Axel Hurtig, Mace’o Phillips 

RD: Zayne Parekh, Henry Mews, Hunter Brzustewicz

G: Arsenii Sergeev, Yegor Yegorov, Kirill Zarubin

For a deeper dive into the prospect pool with player rankings, check out the Yearbook and Future Watch editions of the Hockey News print edition.

On Saturday, New York Islanders restricted free agent forward Maxim Tsyplakov filed for salary cap arbitration.

He declined his $897,750 qualifying offer, and nobody should be shocked by that.

This in no way, shape or form does this mean Tsyplakov wants out. 

While arbitration hearings will take place from late July 20 through August 4, Tsyplakov is eligible to sign a contract with Long Island -- they call it settling -- before his actual hearing takes place. 

Tsyplakov averaged 0.45 points per game in his first NHL season, and the expectation, on both sides, is that he'll improve in year two. 

"For his first year in North America, we kinda forget sometimes when they come, it's not only the first time playing on North American style of hockey, it's also that it's a different culture, like it's going to a new culture that can be challenging for a person," Darche shared in his 1-on-1 interview for The Elmonters. "He did, actually, a great job in his first year.

“He's adjusted really well, and I expect him also to progress and be even better the second time around. Now he is comfortable with New York, with Long Island, and comfortable with NHL hockey. So yeah, I expect some progression from him.”

Tsyplakov shared his thoughts on his first NHL season at locker room cleanout day.

"I expected more from myself, score more goals," the forward said. "I just did not complete my chances when I got them. Just, sometimes, no lucky shot. In the KHL, I have a lot of luck. Here, I know I can score more and be better next season.

"I need to cut the turnovers. I don't want to turn [puck] over."

The question is how much is a player who recorded 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 77 NHL games in 2024-25 asking for?

During the season, his Russian agent, Alex Chernykh, stated in an interview that the Islanders were prepared to offer him $3 million per year on his next deal.

But, Tsyplakov made it clear in a following interview that he hadn't had talks yet with the Islanders about an extension.

However, $3 million annually may have been what Tsyplakov's camp ultimately asked for. 

If that is Tsyplakov's request, it wouldn't be a shock to see his extension, whether it be a one-year deal via arbitration or a multi-year deal before his hearing, with an annual salary somewhere between $2 and $3 million. 

A reminder that arbitrators can only award a one-year deal, but they cannot interfere with a player's unrestricted free agent years. So, Tsyplakov, 26, is only eligible for a one-year deal in arbitration since he'll be a UFA next summer. 

The positive is that Tsyplakov did enjoy his first season on Long Island.

"I want to stay here," Tsyplakov said. "Everything was good and everything I like. Good city, good team, good people. Good fun."

The belief isn't that Tsyplakov is going to be asking for the moon. 

It is, however, hard to guage comparables when it comes to production and contracts. 

For example, Tsyplakov is a stronger player than Connor Brown, who signed a four-year deal with the New Jersey Devils worth $3 million per year.

The question is, do the Islanders want to give Tsyplakav a one-year prove-it deal to see if he can be more of a 20/20 or 25/25 player at the NHL level before committing to a long-term deal?

While that would make a lot of sense, if given a one-year deal, Tsyplakov will be a free agent in the summer of 2026, and he could price himself out depending on his performance and which youngsters are ready to make the jump.

Looking at the projected roster and lineup, Tsyplakov will likely have a bottom-six role at the start of the season, and perhaps there will be a better opportunity elsewhere to play significant minutes. 

Islanders Depth Chart; Projected 23-Man RosterThe New York Islanders have made a few significant moves to their roster this offseason.

If Darche and Roy believe Tsyplakov can play an important role now and in the future, there's no reason he can't secure a short-term deal.

As of now, the Islanders have under $5 million in available cap space, according to Cap Wages, which includes Semyon Varlamov and his $2.75 million cap hit on the roster. He's currently on LTIR. 

So, regardless of the contract Tsyplakov ultimately signs, the Islanders won't have any issues fitting him under the cap. 

We'll see how much time goes by before the two sides agree on a deal. Don't be shocked if a deal happens before his arbitraiton hearing day, with the date being announced at a later date. 

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PHOTO: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images