Oilers’ Samuel Jonsson & Connor Ungar Should Be the AHL Goalie Tandem in 2026-27

The Edmonton Oilers have needed goaltending for decades. They’ve had many different goalies, but none have panned out the way they’ve hoped. The organization has struggled to draft and develop them properly. In the Connor McDavid era, most of the goaltenders have been either traded for or signed as free agents. Those goaltenders include Cam Talbot, Mike Smith, Mikko Koskinen, Jack Campbell, Calvin Pickard, Connor Ingram, and Tristan Jarry.

The only notable netminder who was drafted and developed by the Oilers was Stuart Skinner. While he wasn’t perfect, he provided decent goaltending despite heavy criticism. He wasn’t as bad as some fans suggest. The Oilers eventually moved on from him and are still seeking a long-term solution between the pipes.

The Oilers don’t have a good history of scouting, drafting, or developing goalies, but hopefully that’s changing. They have two promising prospects in the system that fans should be excited about. Samuel Jonsson and Connor Ungar look to be trending in the right direction, and the Oilers may have found something in them. They could both be Edmonton’s future if they continue their trajectory.

The Oilers drafted Jonsson in the fifth round (158 overall) in 2022, and he signed his three-year entry-level contract (ELC) in April 2025. The 22-year-old finally came over to North America this season, after spending his previous seasons in Sweden.

While the Oilers didn’t draft Ungar, their scouting paid dividends. They signed him in March 2024, after a successful season at Brock University in USports. The 24-year-old undrafted goaltender played his junior hockey in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). He needs a new contract this offseason. Both these goaltenders have a lot of potential, and it’s time to move them up through the organization.

Jonsson & Ungar Deserve a Promotion

Jonsson spent the entire season with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL and had a fantastic season. He played 33 games, posting a 21-8-2 record, with a 2.38 goals-against average (GAA) and a .910 save percentage (SV%) with five shutouts. His numbers are even better in the playoffs. He has a 5-1-0 record with an impeccable 1.50 GAA and a .952 SV%, with two shutouts this postseason. Fort Wayne currently has a 3-2 series lead over the Toledo Walleye in the second round. He deserves a promotion to the American Hockey League (AHL) next season to continue his development.

Then, there’s Ungar, who has bounced around all season. He has played for three different ECHL teams, including the Komets, Greensboro Gargoyles, and Orlando Solar Bears. He was on loan because the Oilers struggled to find him playing time. Despite being constantly on the move, his numbers were fantastic everywhere he went. He had a .945 SV% in four games with Greensboro, a .944 SV% in two games with Fort Wayne, and a .913 SV% in 19 games with Orlando. In his ECHL career, he has a 2.57 GAA and a .910 SV%, with seven shutouts in 60 games. He has put the organization on notice.

His strong play earned him a call-up to the AHL. In 13 games with the Bakersfield Condors this season, he posted a 9-2-2 record with a 2.51 GAA and a .923 SV%. He proved that he can handle the jump to the next level. His stats have been impressive at every level, so it’s time he gets promoted to the AHL full-time. If he has sustained success there next season, a call-up to the Oilers shouldn’t be far behind.

Oilers Need to Move On From Matt Tomkins & Calvin Pickard

If the Oilers hope to continue Ungar and Jonsson’s development, they must move on from Matt Tomkins. He still has one more season left on his contract and has been the Condors’ starting goaltender. However, at 31 years old, he is a career AHLer, and there’s no path for him to become any more than that. If they keep him, they are hindering their prospects’ development. Ungar has already struggled to find playing time because of the goalie logjam in the minors.

Pickard also spent significant time in the AHL this season, but he’s a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA). His time in the Oilers’ organization should be over, which opens up a spot for either Ungar or Jonsson. However, if they find Tomkins a new home, Ungar and Jonsson can be the full-time AHL goalie tandem. While the Oilers need to find an immediate upgrade in net, they may have found two long-term solutions.

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