Ingram's Contract Dilemma
Despite solid NHL rankings, Oilers goalie Ingram remains unsigned amid contract demands.
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Connor Ingram was the Edmonton Oilers' best goalie this past season — and he still can't find a new team. Despite solid numbers across the board, Ingram remains unsigned as NHL free agency rolls on, according to Edmonton Journal.
Ingram played the most games of any Oilers goalie, won 16 games, and started five of six playoff games. His save percentage was 0.899. Yet no NHL team has signed him, Edmonton Sun reported.
Ingram's Numbers Put Him Solidly in NHL's Top Half
Among the 70 goalies who played more than 15 games last season, Ingram ranked 34th overall, according to Calgary Herald. That puts him squarely in the top half of NHL starters. He ranked 29th in save percentage and 30th in Goals Saved Above Average — a stat that measures how many goals a goalie prevented compared to an average goalie.
He did rank 46th in games played, London Free Press noted. That lower games-played number may be dragging down how some teams view him. But his efficiency numbers tell a different story.
Oilers Move On, Choose Tristan Jarry Instead
Edmonton has decided not to bring Ingram back. The team is moving forward with Tristan Jarry as its goalie, according to Owen Sound Sun Times. That left Ingram free to sign anywhere — but so far, no offers have come.
The Oilers' choice is notable. Jarry has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent seasons. Choosing Jarry over a goalie who posted better numbers this past year raised eyebrows among hockey observers, Fort McMurray Today reported.
Other Teams Sign Lesser Goalies While Ingram Waits
The most puzzling part of the story is what other teams are doing. Multiple NHL clubs have signed goalies with weaker stats than Ingram, according to Stratford Beacon Herald. Those deals have gone through while Ingram sits on the sideline without a contract.
It is not clear why teams are passing on him. One possible reason is money. Ingram is expected to want a multi-year deal, Brantford Expositor noted. Some teams may not want that kind of long-term commitment for a goalie who only ranked 46th in games played last season.
Contract Demands May Be the Real Roadblock
Ingram's ask for a multi-year deal could be scaring teams away, according to Chatham Daily News. NHL teams often prefer short, cheap deals for backup and mid-tier goalies. A multi-year commitment means more salary cap space locked up for longer.
Still, his performance earned that kind of ask. He ranked in the top half of all qualifying NHL goalies. If teams keep signing less effective goalies while Ingram waits, the gap between his stats and his market value will be hard to explain, PR Record Gazette noted.
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