Calvin Pickard Clears Waivers, Stays with Oilers Amid Goaltending Shuffle
Calvin Pickard is staying put - at least for now.
The 33-year-old goaltender cleared waivers this week, meaning no other NHL team was willing to pick up his $1 million cap hit. That’s not a huge surprise given the season he’s had, but it’s still a notable moment for a player who’s earned a lot of respect inside the Edmonton Oilers’ locker room.
Pickard has long been seen as the consummate teammate - a pro’s pro who understands his role and shows up ready, whether he’s starting or backing up. He’s won eight of his last ten playoff decisions over the past two seasons, and that kind of clutch performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by the team or its fans. But this season has been a different story.
Through 13 decisions this year, Pickard has managed just five wins and sports a .871 save percentage - ranking him 62nd among 70 regular NHL goalies in that category. That kind of stat line, combined with Edmonton’s midseason moves, made his waiver placement feel like an inevitability.
The Oilers’ recent acquisitions of Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram signaled a shift in the crease. With both goalies expected to carry the load moving forward, Pickard’s role was always going to be in flux. And while the team is dealing with some non-goaltending issues that have complicated things for Jarry and Ingram, Edmonton clearly sees them as the tandem to ride - at least for now.
Still, keeping Pickard in the organization has value. As Cult of Hockey’s Kurt Leavins put it, “Good for the organization to hold onto your #3, given the non-goaltending challenges Jarry and Ingram have faced.
Tough spot for a good soldier, but remember he was originally signed to BE a #3. It’s a tough business.”
Inside the dressing room, Pickard’s presence carries weight. “I think I speak for everyone in here. He’s one of the greatest teammates all of us have had,” Leon Draisaitl said, summing up the kind of respect Pickard commands from his peers.
Now the question becomes: where does Pickard go from here?
The Oilers’ AHL affiliate in Bakersfield, home to some of the organization’s most promising young talent, already has a bit of a logjam in net. Veteran Matt Tomkins and 24-year-old Connor Ungar are both playing standout hockey, with Ungar, in particular, turning heads.
He’s been one of the hottest goalies in the minors this season, and his development is a major priority for the Oilers. If there’s a late-season call-up needed, Ungar is looking more and more like Plan B behind Jarry and Ingram.
That makes the situation in Bakersfield delicate. Pickard, with his NHL experience and veteran presence, could be a stabilizing force down there - but only if it doesn’t come at the expense of Ungar’s ice time. The last thing Edmonton wants is to stall Ungar’s momentum in a season where his trajectory could play a pivotal role in the team’s depth chart.
There’s also the timing factor. Reports suggest Pickard may not report to Bakersfield until after the Olympic break, which would delay any decision about how the crease time is split in the AHL. That gives the organization some breathing room - and a chance to reassess depending on how things unfold in Edmonton and Bakersfield over the next few weeks.
Cap-wise, there’s a strategic element in play as well. By sending Pickard and forward Josh Samanski down, the Oilers can get under the cap and start accruing space during the Olympic break. That flexibility could prove valuable as the team navigates the second half of the season.
For now, Pickard remains part of the Oilers’ depth chart - a steady veteran who knows the job, knows the system, and has the trust of the room. His path forward may be uncertain, but his value to the organization, both on the ice and in the room, remains intact.