Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman has finally addressed growing concerns regarding the team's roster composition and, most notably, the goaltending situation. Speaking to reporters after the NHL's November GM meetings in Toronto, Bowman acknowledged the team's performance has been inconsistent, but preached patience rather than panic.

The Oilers currently hold a 7-6-4 record, a far cry from their aspirations. While not a complete crisis, it highlights a troubling lack of consistency that Bowman aims to rectify. He stated the team tends to win one, then lose one, often with overtime results interspersed. According to Bowman, the team's struggles aren't isolated to one area but rather a team-wide issue. "We've had ups and downs with both goalies, the defence and the forwards," he said.

Addressing the elephant in the room, Bowman admitted that the goaltending tandem of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard has been "average". He clarified that their performance hasn't been elite, but it hasn't been outright bad either. He is aware of the external narrative surrounding the .883 save percentage and the calls for a trade to bolster the position. Despite the noise, Bowman made it clear that he believes the issues extend beyond just the goaltenders.

For the time being, Bowman seems intent on giving the current group the opportunity to find their rhythm. He is betting that the existing roster, with the eventual return of injured winger Zach Hyman, can stabilize before he considers making any trades. "Usually we get on a run where you win six, seven, eight in a row … we haven't been able to get going" Bowman stated.

Bowman stated no trades are imminent, signaling that no major roster surgery is planned. However, this patience will only last so long, especially in a market like Edmonton. Should Skinner, or the goaltending in general, fail to improve, Bowman's stance could quickly change.

The Oilers GM also touched on forward Viktor Arvidsson, who he said is likely on the way out after not meshing with the team as anticipated. Bowman indicated the team is talking with other teams to find a spot for him.

Bowman also addressed other key issues, including Connor McDavid's future in Edmonton, Evan Bouchard's contract negotiations, and the future of the coaching staff. With McDavid entering the final year of his contract, Bowman said the focus is on addressing McDavid's questions about the team's direction. Bowman is also working to sort out the coaching positions, with announcements expected soon.

While the possibility of acquiring a high-profile goaltender remains uncertain due to salary cap constraints, the Oilers are open to internal adjustments, potentially starting with the coaching staff. The Oilers fired long-time goalie coach Dustin Schwartz. Head coach Kris Knoblauch and GM Bowman are set to interview candidates in the coming weeks.