from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

The Oilers need help now, and down the road.

Their cupboard is pretty bare of prospect goalies, outside of former Oklahoma City Barons goalie Laurent Brossoit and recently signed Finn Eetu Laurikainen. They tried for Boston University free-agent Matt O’Connor but he opted to sign in Ottawa. The Oilers moved to Plan B for Laurikainen, who played junior hockey in Swift Current, Sask., and last year in Finland’s top league.

They need a goalie to tag team with Ben Scrivens next year.

Talbot, an unrestricted free-agent next July, is a favourite of Mark Messier, who is an Oilers’ advisor. Half a dozen teams are circling around the six-foot-five Lehner, who might be another Ben Bishop.

Los Angeles will be re-signing Jonathan Quick’s little-used backup Martin Jones, 25, recognizing his value, but lots of teams are interested in Jones, too, including the Oilers.

A wild card in all of this for the Oilers might be Kari Lehtonen in Dallas. The Stars like him but don’t love him, and realize he’s a tough trade nut to crack with a $5.9-million cap hit.

more on the Oilers drafting a goalie...