Edmonton Oilers about to take their revenge on the St-Louis Blues for their offersheet?
The idea of the Edmonton Oilers pursuing an offer sheet to target St. Louis Blues' goaltender Joel Hofer is an intriguing one, especially as a revenge.
Joel Hofer could provide the Oilers with a potential long-term option between the pipes, especially if Stuart Skinner faces any struggles as the team's starter.
Offer sheets are rare in the NHL due to the unwritten code between general managers where making an offer sheet can be seen as an aggressive move that invites retaliation for the future. Joel Hofer's situation with the Blues makes him an interesting target thought. Despite his solid performances last season, Hofer is still behind Jordan Binnington in the hierarchy and Binnington is signed for another three seasons at $6M per year. This makes it difficult for Joel Hofer to claim a regular starting role in St. Louis which potentially makes him open to a change of scenery.
The current goaltending tandem for the Oilers has been inconsistent and adding a young and reliable goaltender like Hofer could be a game-changer. However, an offer sheet would require careful consideration of the financial terms that the Blues might not be able to match. It's worth noting that the Blues are already committed to Jordan Binnington, so matching a high offer for Hofer may not be appealing to them.
CEO Jeff Jackson's focus on bringing in younger talent could align with this idea and as Hofer fits the mold of a promising young player who could grow into a key piece for Edmonton. The Oilers with the loss of Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway to the Blues via offer sheets, might find extra motivation to explore this avenue as a form of «revenge».
This offer sheet will depend on how the season unfolds for the Edmonton Oilers. If Stuart Skinner underperforms or Edmonton sees an opportunity to upgrade in net, they might seriously consider making a bold move to acquire Joel Hofer this summer.
