Tyler Conklin (born 30 March 1976, Anchorage, Alaska) is a goaltender with the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. He went undrafted, despite repeated honours in the United States Hockey League and the NCAA. He was signed by the Oilers in the summer of 2001 to challenge for the backup role. He spent the bulk of his time with the Hamilton Bulldogs, the then-shared American Hockey League affiliate for the Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. In the 2003/04 season, he spent the entire year in the NHL as first the back-up to Tommy Salo, and then the joint starter with Jussi Markkanen following Salo's trade to the Colorado Avalanche. During the NHL lockout he played in the German Elite League.
He has also played net for the United States national team at the previous two International Ice Hockey Federation world hockey championships. In the 2004 Championships, he was selected as best goaltender.
Following the lockout, Conklin entered the new season as Edmonton's probable starting goaltender, backed up by Jussi Markkanen. Given the prevalent idea that either goaltender could assume the starting job, local media began using the nickname "Conkkanen" (which likely originated on internet message boards) to describe Edmonton's starting goaltender. However, during the 2005-2006 season, both goaltenders proved to be ineffective, forcing the Oilers' General Manager Kevin Lowe to trade for Dwayne Roloson of the Minnesota Wild.
2006 Stanley Cup playoffs In the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Conklin was called in to play in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals in relief of injured goaltender Dwayne Roloson. Late in the third period, he and his teammate Jason Smith made a blunder that gave the Hurricanes an easy empty-netted goal that cost the Oilers the game.
