Connor Ingram: OCD, Autism, and His NHL Comeback Journey
Connor Ingram is not your typical NHL goaltender. Between the pipes, he’s a battler; away from the rink, he’s navigated challenges that few in professional sports ever discuss publicly.
NHL games played (career): 50 (2023-24) ·
Save percentage (2023-24): .895 ·
Contract length: 3 years ·
Annual cap hit: $1.95 million ·
Draft year: 2016 (3rd round, 88th overall)
Quick snapshot
- Oct 2024: Re-entered NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program (KMYU)
- Oct 2025: Traded from Utah to Edmonton Oilers (NHL.com)
- July 2026: Headed to free agency (Daily Hive Edmonton)
- Free-agent decision pending (Daily Hive Edmonton)
- Potential return to NHL roster in 2026-27 (Daily Hive Edmonton)
Seven key biographical facts, one pattern: Ingram’s path from a junior hockey prospect to an NHL starter has been anything but linear.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Connor Brent Ingram |
| Date of birth | March 31, 1997 |
| Birthplace | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Position | Goaltender |
| Shoots/Catches | Left |
| NHL draft | 2016, 3rd round (88th overall) by Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Current team (as of 2024) | Edmonton Oilers |
What happened with Connor Ingram?
Career timeline: from Nashville to Arizona to Utah
Ingram’s NHL journey began when the Tampa Bay Lightning selected him in the 2016 draft. After developing in the minors, he was traded to the Nashville Predators in June 2019. The Predators organization provided his first real NHL exposure, but it wasn’t until he was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Coyotes in 2021 that his career found its footing.
In the 2023-24 season, Ingram played a career-high 50 games for the franchise that relocated from Arizona to Utah, posting a 23-21-3 record with a .895 save percentage and a 3.12 goals-against average.
Re-entry into the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program (2024-2025)
On March 9, 2025, the Utah Hockey Club announced that Ingram had re-entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program and would be away from the team indefinitely. The reason for his return to the program was not publicly disclosed, though later NHL.com reporting tied it to the death of his mother.
Signing with the Edmonton Oilers for a comeback
On October 1, 2025, the Utah Hockey Club traded Ingram to the Edmonton Oilers for future considerations, with Utah retaining $800,000 (41.025641%) of his contract. The move gave Ingram a fresh environment in which to resume his career. Contract negotiations with the Oilers were ongoing through June 2026, according to Daily Hive Edmonton, but by July 1, 2026, no agreement had been reached and Ingram headed to NHL free agency.
Ingram’s move to Edmonton gave him a new locker room but also compressed his window to prove he’s an NHL starter. With free agency looming, his next contract will be a direct vote of confidence — or a sign that teams remain cautious.
What is Connor Ingram’s diagnosis?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Ingram has been open about his OCD diagnosis, which he received about nine months before his NHL debut. According to a 2022 profile by The Tennessean, his obsessive thoughts centered on fears of contamination, including an intense fixation on sexually transmitted diseases that led him to repeatedly check for symptoms. NHL.com reported that his OCD also manifested in everyday behaviors, such as avoiding high-fives with strangers due to contamination concerns.
Autism spectrum disorder
Ingram has also publicly disclosed that he is on the autism spectrum. While he has not gone into extensive detail about how autism affects him specifically, his willingness to speak openly about both conditions makes him one of the few NHL players to do so.
How Ingram has spoken publicly about his mental health
In a 2023 interview with ABC15 Arizona, Ingram said therapy “saved my life.” He disclosed that he spent 42 days in a mental-health trauma facility as part of his recovery. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me,” he told the outlet. His candor has made him a visible advocate for mental health in professional hockey, a culture that has historically been reluctant to discuss such topics.
Ingram’s public disclosure of both OCD and autism challenges the traditional stoic image of an NHL goaltender. For young athletes wrestling with similar diagnoses, his visibility offers a rare template — one where performance and vulnerability coexist.
The pattern: Ingram has consistently turned his diagnoses from private struggles into public advocacy without letting them define his performance on the ice.
Is Connor Ingram a good NHL goalie?
2023-24 season stats
Ingram’s 2023-24 season was his first as a full-time NHL starter. Across 50 games, he recorded a 23-21-3 record. His .895 save percentage and 3.12 goals-against average placed him near the middle of NHL goaltenders who played 40 or more games.
Performance compared to league average
Among goaltenders with at least 30 starts in 2023-24, Ingram’s .895 save percentage was slightly below the league average of roughly .900. His 3.12 GAA was also a touch above the typical range for a starting goaltender. However, he played behind a Coyotes/Utah team that was in transition and not considered a Stanley Cup contender, factors that affect defensive support and shot quality faced.
Potential going forward
At 27 years old entering the 2024-25 season, Ingram is in his physical prime for a goaltender. His experience with the player assistance program, combined with a new team environment in Edmonton, could unlock more consistent play. The Oilers’ strong defensive structure, anchored by stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, offers a better supporting cast than he had in Arizona/Utah.
The catch: A single 50-game season as a starter is a small sample. Whether Ingram can sustain — or improve — his numbers over a full NHL workload remains the central question for teams evaluating his long-term value.
How much money does Connor Ingram make?
Current NHL contract terms
According to PuckPedia, Ingram’s most recent completed contract was a three-year deal worth $5.85 million total, carrying a cap hit of $1.95 million per season. That contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season.
Cap hit and salary breakdown
When the Oilers acquired Ingram in October 2025, Utah retained $800,000 of his cap hit, meaning Edmonton’s actual cap burden was $1.15 million per season for the remainder of the deal. That retention made Ingram an affordable depth option for a team with significant cap commitments to its core stars.
Previous contract history
Ingram’s entry-level contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, signed after his 2016 draft selection, was a standard three-year deal. He earned near the league minimum during his early years before proving himself as an NHL-caliber goaltender and securing the $1.95 million AAV contract.
What this means: Ingram’s next contract — whether with Edmonton or another team — will be his first true test of market value. If he signs a deal above his previous $1.95 million AAV, it signals he’s viewed as a legitimate starter. If he settles for less, teams may still see him as a project.
Why is Connor Ingram’s helmet unfinished?
The under-painted helmet story
One of the most distinctive details of Ingram’s equipment is his goalie mask, which features large patches of unpainted grey primer. The unfinished look is not the result of a rushed equipment order; it’s a deliberate choice. Ingram leaves the primer exposed as a reminder that he works in progress — a visible symbol of his mental health journey.
Symbolism of the unfinished design
For Ingram, the helmet represents the idea that healing is never truly complete. The unpainted sections signify that recovery from OCD and the daily management of autism don’t have a finish line. It’s a message that resonates far beyond hockey — and one that has drawn widespread attention from fans and media alike.
Fan and media reactions
The helmet story went viral on social media after being highlighted by NHL reporters and team media. Fans praised Ingram for his authenticity, and the mask became a recognizable symbol of mental health advocacy in the sport. The NHL.com feature that detailed the helmet’s meaning was widely shared.
The pattern: Ingram’s helmet is not a gimmick — it’s a quiet act of vulnerability that perfectly captures his approach to both hockey and life.
Timeline
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Connor Ingram has OCD and autism (self-disclosed). (NHL.com)
- He re-entered the player assistance program in March 2025. (ESPN)
- He was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in October 2025. (NHL.com)
- His helmet is deliberately left with unpainted primer areas. (NHL.com)
- His last contract had a $1.95 million cap hit. (PuckPedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact details of his mother’s death and timing. (NHL.com)
- Specific terms of his Oilers contract (reported but not officially confirmed).
- Exact date he will return to game action.
Key quotes
“Therapy saved my life.”
Connor Ingram, ABC15 Arizona
“It was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Connor Ingram, speaking about his 42-day stay at a mental-health trauma facility, ABC15 Arizona
Ingram’s words underscore a theme that runs through his entire career: vulnerability is not weakness. For a player who has faced as much off-ice as on-ice, that message has become his trademark.
His diagnosis and the story of his unfinished helmet are covered in depth in Connor Ingrams diagnosis and mask story.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Connor Ingram’s mom?
Reports indicate that Ingram’s mother passed away, with NHL.com noting that the death was a factor in his re-entry into the player assistance program. The exact cause and timing have not been publicly disclosed.
Which NHL goalie has autism?
Connor Ingram is the most prominent NHL goaltender to publicly disclose an autism diagnosis. He has spoken openly about being on the autism spectrum while managing his NHL career.
How many NHL teams has Connor Ingram played for?
Ingram has suited up for four NHL organizations: the Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes/Utah Hockey Club, and Edmonton Oilers. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning but never played for them in the NHL.
What is the player assistance program in the NHL?
The NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program is a confidential resource jointly administered by the league and its players’ union. It provides support for mental health, substance abuse, and personal issues. Ingram has entered the program at least twice.
Is Connor Ingram married?
Ingram keeps his personal life private. There is no publicly available information confirming whether he is married or in a relationship.
Does Connor Ingram have OCD?
Yes. Ingram has publicly disclosed that he has obsessive-compulsive disorder, which was diagnosed approximately nine months before his NHL debut. He has spoken in detail about how it affects his daily life.
Why did Connor Ingram leave the Utah Hockey Club?
Ingram was traded to the Edmonton Oilers on October 1, 2025, as part of a roster move by Utah. The trade was for future considerations, with Utah retaining a portion of his salary.
What is Connor Ingram’s career goals against average?
Ingram’s NHL career goals-against average stands at approximately 3.12 based on his 2023-24 season, which accounts for the vast majority of his NHL appearances. His career save percentage is .895.
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