The Edmonton Oilers could use some help in the crease this year. They have the tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard locked and loaded, and are more than comfortable riding them into the sunset. However, the next week will see a lot of movement on the waiver wire with every team. It presents a unique opportunity to explore a trade if nothing is appealing on waivers.
In light of this, Heavy.com has proposed a trade that would see the Oilers acquire Arvid Soderblom from the Chicago Blackhawks, Stan Bowman’s former team.
Oilers Acquire:
Arvid Soderblom ($2.75 million)
Blackhawks Acquire:
Brett Kulak ($2.75 million)
Mattias Janmark ($1.45 million)
This trade proposal would be a significant achievement for the Oilers to accomplish. They would acquire a goaltender who could challenge Skinner for the starting position without giving up Skinner or Pickard in a trade. The Blackhawks acquire a great defender in Brett Kulak and a versatile forward in Mattias Janmark.
The Oilers would acquire Soderblom, 26, who has 86 games of regular season experience under his belt. The 6-foot-3, 180 lb goaltender recorded 10 wins, a 3.18 goals against average (GAA), and an .898 save percentage (SV%) in 36 games, on one of the worst teams in the league.
This trade pitch sees the Blackhawks add Kulak, 31, to their stable of defenders. The 6-foot-2, 192 lb left-handed defender was initially drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2012, who would also play for the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to the Oilers. In 2024-25, he recorded career highs in goals (7), assists (18), points (25), and average time on ice per game (20:32).
The Blackhawks add forward depth with Janmark. His utility up and down the lineup would be an impressive asset for Chicago, as they look to take another step toward being a playoff team.
Oilers Have Arvid Soderblom Connections
Several working relationships would connect Soderblom with the Oilers. The first one is the current GM of the Oilers.
Stan Bowman has been the GM of the Oilers for just over a year. However, his connection to Soderblom goes back to May of 2021. That was the month that Soderblom signed a two-year Entry-Level Contract worth $925,000 per season.
Bowman has displayed the habit of acquiring players who have previously played for him. During the 2024-25 season, the Oilers claimed defender Alec Regula off waivers. Regula signed his three-year ELC with the Blackhawks while Bowman was the GM. On May 2nd, Bowman signed Regula to a contract extension, keeping him in an Oilers uniform for two more seasons.
Additionally, Soderblom has worked with the Oilers’ new goalie coach, Peter Aubry. Aubry was the Blackhawks’ goalie development coach for many years and observed Soderblom first-hand.
Aubry has spoken about his belief in Soderblom as a potential top goaltender in the NHL.
“I think he’s got the ability to be a No. 1,” Aubry revealed back in 2023. “I have no problem saying that. I recognize environment is a huge part of someone’s growth and perception,” he added. “But, in the right environment, I’m ecstatic about what he could become.”
Oilers Like Calvin Pickard Too Much to Trade Him
On the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman revealed some things he learned about Pickard when they interviewed a few players in Edmonton.
“What did we learn when we were in Edmonton about Calvin Pickard?” Friedman asked his co-host. “He may be the most popular guy in that room,” was the response to Friedman.
“Hugely popular teammate. Pickard, when he’s played, has gotten W’s for the Oilers. The way the players talk about Pickard, I would be curious to see if the Oilers would want to unseat him.”
Friedman’s co-host, Kyle Bukauskas, believes the answer is “no” to the Oilers looking to move on from Pickard.
Bukauskas then pointed out something significant about the Oilers’ goaltending.
“Oilers have a combined $3.6 million dedicated to their net…it’s not like their goaltending is weighing down their cap flexibility at all right now,” Bukauskas said to Friedman.
Soderblom Better Than What’s Available on Waivers
On the same episode of 32 Thoughts, Friedman revealed two goalies he thinks will be interesting to watch this week, Michael DiPietro and Clay Stevenson.
“There’s at least two goalies who may go on waivers this week. I’m really curious to see, do they pass through? Do they get traded beforehand? Do their teams try to keep three goalies?” Friedman teased. “Those goalies are Michael DiPietro and Clay Stevenson. DiPietro is in Boston and Stevenson is in Washington.”
As far as the Oilers are concerned, Soderblom has better numbers and a longer NHL track record than those two netminders. Once you factor in the connections to the current GM and goalie coach, a trade for Soderblom is more likely than a waiver claim for those two.
It will be an interesting week in the NHL; there is no doubt about that.