Diana: Connor Ingram is retiring. At twenty-nine. That’s not a rumor, that’s not a trade deadline panic move—that is a final, definitive announcement from the goaltender himself. If you thought the Oilers’ offseason was settling down, think again.
Adam: It’s a massive shift in the net picture for Edmonton. We’ve got a completely reshuffled roster with Alex Formenton officially in town, three goalies left to sort out, and a Pacific Division title on the line despite being 0-0-0 right now. This is going to be a heavy mailbag.
Diana: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, where we live for the hockey. I’m Diana, joined by Adam. Today, we are diving into your questions about the Connor Ingram retirement fallout, the new depth chart battles, and what this means for Frederik Andersen. Let’s get into it.
Adam: We’re starting cold because the news just dropped. Ingram is stepping away from the game. The question isn’t just why—he’s only twenty-nine—but what does this do to the crease? We have Frederik Andersen, Tristan Jarry, Devon Levi, and Connor Ungar all still under contract or in camp. It’s crowded.
Diana: Let’s start with our first question from @HockeyFan84 in Calgary. They ask: 'With Connor Ingram retiring, who is the clear starter? Is it finally Frederik Andersen's year to carry the load?'
Adam: I think everyone assumed Andersen would be the veteran anchor, but let’s look at the reality. You have Tristan Jarry, who has been with this organization for years. He knows the system. He knows McDavid and Draisaitl. Jarry isn’t an unknown quantity. Andersen brings experience, but Jarry brings familiarity with the defensive structure we built after trading Nurse.
Adam: Ungar is likely going to be the third goalie who plays in the AHL. Levi is the wildcard. But here’s the tactical truth: McDavid and Draisaitl need stability. They don’t need a project. They need someone who can handle the high-danger chances when the neutral-zone trap fails. Jarry has done that. Andersen has done that. I’d bet on Jarry starting the season, with Andersen as the reliable backup unless there’s a specific injury issue.
Diana: That makes sense. Stability over flash. Our next question comes from Sarah in Vancouver. She asks: 'Alex Formenton signed. He was acquitted in the Hockey Canada case. Where does he fit? Is he playing center or wing? And how deep is this forward group?'
Adam: This is huge. Formenton is listed as a Left Wing on the roster, but he played center in college. With this many centers—McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins, Colton Dach, Jason Dickinson, Trent Frederic, Adam Henrique, Mattias Janmark, Curtis Lazar, Owen Michaels, Josh Samanski, Matt Savoie—you have to use him on the wing. He’s a two-way guy. He forechecks hard. He’s exactly the kind of energy player you want on your third or fourth line.
Diana: It’s a lot of bodies up front. Are we worried about chemistry? Having so many centers might clog up the middle.
Adam: No, actually. It gives flexibility. If Nuge needs rest, or if McDavid gets a break, you can slide someone else over. But yes, Formenton on the wing makes perfect sense. He’s aggressive, he’s clean legally, and he fits the gritty style we’ve added with players like Trent Frederic and Max Jones. He’s not a superstar, but he’s a complete NHL player who will eat minutes in the corners.
Diana: Okay, so Formenton is a wing. What about the other wingers? Zach Hyman is still there, obviously. But we have Mathieu Joseph, Kasperi Kapanen, Vasily Podkolzin, Quinn Hutson, David Tomasek, Eduards Tralmaks. Who is fighting for spots?
Adam: Hyman is locked in as the top-line sniper. His connection with McDavid is elite. Then you have Kapanen and Joseph battling for secondary scoring. Kapanen has speed. Joseph has size. Podkolzin is a physical presence. It’s a competitive training camp. But honestly, the biggest battle isn’t on the wing—it’s in the crease. And that leads us to our next segment.
Diana: Before we break, I want to take a second to talk to you guys. Making this show every single day, fresh and free, takes a lot of work. A small group of supporters helps keep the lights on and the content flowing. If you love the podcast, please check out the link in the episode description. Your support means everything to us.
Adam: Thanks for listening. Keep those questions coming. Next time, we’ll see if Jarry wins the job. Oilers forever.