The Edmonton Oilers have acquired goaltender Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for future considerations. The trade, announced Wednesday, sees the Mammoth retaining $800,000 of Ingram's $1.95 million cap hit. The 28-year-old netminder will be assigned to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.
Ingram, a native of Saskatoon, SK, has spent the past four seasons with the Coyotes, Hockey Club, and Predators organizations. His NHL career record stands at 39-44-15 with a 3.14 goals-against average (GAA) and a .902 save percentage in 102 games.
Prior to the trade, Ingram cleared waivers after the Utah Mammoth's general manager, Bill Armstrong, announced that Ingram would not be participating in training camp with the team. Armstrong stated that this decision was made by mutual agreement, as the team already has their goaltenders. He added, "It's probably best for him not to come to camp and put himself in a (tough) situation".
Ingram played 22 games for Utah last season, posting a 9-8-4 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .882 save percentage before entering the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on March 9. He was cleared from the program on August 20. Armstrong expressed his support for Ingram, saying, "We're excited for him and his path to recovery, that's the biggest thing...He will either get a chance to play for another NHL team or he will go to the American Hockey League and resume his play. But at the end of the day he will be playing and that's what we're so excited for".
Ingram was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the third round (88th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. He has also played four Stanley Cup Playoff games (three starts) for the Nashville Predators in 2022, where he went 0-3 with a 3.64 GAA and a .913 save percentage.
The Oilers' current goaltending tandem consists of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard. Skinner started 50 games last season, while Pickard started 31. The acquisition of Ingram provides additional depth in the organization. Matt Tomkins was recently placed on waivers and is en route to the AHL, potentially to be the primary starting goalie on the Condors. Also in the mix to share the net with Tomkins in Bakersfield are rookie Nathaniel Day and former Brock University standout Connor Ungar.
Ingram is in the final season of a three-year, $5.85 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He won the Masterton Trophy for the 2023-24 season, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Ingram also entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in 2021 due to depression and what had been an undiagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With Karel Vejmelka and Vitek Vanecek expected to form the Mammoth's goalie tandem this season, Ingram was looking for a fresh start.
