Penguins linked to former Oilers goalie Connor Ingram in NHL free agency

Connor Ingram, the 29 year old goaltender, posted a 16–10–3 record, 2.60 GAA, and .899 save percentage across 32 regular season games for the Edmonton Oilers before going 2–3 in the playoffs. At the end of the 2025-26 season, Connor Ingram’s three year contract expired and he turned into an unrestricted free agent. Ahead of the new season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to him. | Category | Details | | Player | Connor Ingram | | Current Status | Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) | | Rumored Teams | Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers | | Signing Likelihood | High (Expected to land a contract or professional tryout before training camp) | | Latest Insider Update | Connor Ingram remains the top unsigned netminder available on the market. Analysts view him as a prime target for teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins seeking to stabilize their backup or tandem goaltending depth prior to the start of the preseason. | Which teams are interested in Connor Ingram? Over the last few weeks, as per NHL insiders and analysts, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, and Carolina Hurricanes have been linked to Connor Ingram, ahead of training camp. What are insiders saying about the rumors? A few hours ago, NHL insider Jonathan Ouimet of Markerzone noted in a recent report, “Connor Ingram is still sitting unsigned in August, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have exactly the kind of goaltending uncertainty that should be calling him. Pittsburgh's crease already looks completely different heading into 2026-27 after Stuart Skinner left in free agency this offseason.” NHL insider Jonathan Ouimet of Markerzone added, “At 29, he posted a 16-10-3 record with a .899 save percentage across 32 games last season, plus 2.03 goals saved above expected at five-on-five. He wasn't spectacular in Edmonton, but he was steady, reliable enough that he actually won the starting job away from Jarry down the stretch and carried most of Edmonton's playoff workload. For Pittsburgh, adding a proven, affordable veteran like Ingram costs almost nothing and directly addresses the one real question mark hanging over this crease heading into the season.” How will this impact the team? For the Pittsburgh Penguins, signing Connor Ingram remains highly affordable as he will stabilize the Penguins' crease by giving them a reliable, experienced starting option. At this point in time, nothing has been confirmed yet as the Pittsburgh Penguins have not responded to the trade rumor. Last month, there were many rumors about Connor Ingram resigning with the Edmonton Oilers. But NHL insider Sportsnet’s Mark Spector noted, “Connor Ingram goes to market. Negotiations with Oilers not fruitful. Would have liked to have remained an Oiler. This tells us Oilers have settled elsewhere on a netminder.” Neither Connor Ingram nor the Edmonton Oilers has responded to the speculations as he remains out of the spotlight.