Training camp has already started to reshape the conversation around the Edmonton Oilers’ roster, and one name worth watching is Matt Tomkins. He’s one of eight goalies in camp, and while his NHL résumé is thin, there’s a path where he becomes the kind of useful piece Calvin Pickard was for this organization in recent years.
Pickard was with the Oilers from 2022 to 2026 and carved out a valuable role as a backup goalie and steady presence during a pair of Cup runs. Teammates in Edmonton clearly viewed him as more than just another netminder on the depth chart. He was a trusted teammate and an important part of the room.
Tomkins is in a different spot, especially when it comes to NHL experience. He has only six NHL appearances, all with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2023-24 season, and those outings produced an .892 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against average.
That’s not much to hang a season on, and it doesn’t exactly scream immediate NHL breakthrough. Still, his recent work has been stronger.
Last season with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL, Tomkins posted a .904 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average over 42 games. He also had better numbers the season before with Tampa Bay’s farm team. The arc is familiar enough: a strong start to his career, a rough stretch in the middle, and then a return to form in recent seasons that has made him look like a dependable backup option.
At 32, Tomkins does not need a massive leap to put himself in the conversation. If he keeps playing well, he could work his way into a backup role with the Oilers or boost his value enough to land a contract elsewhere.
The more immediate fit may be as a leader. The AHL side is expected to include young goaltenders Connor Ungar and Samuel Jonsson, with Tomkins joining them as a veteran presence. That setup could change, but that’s the likely starting point.
There’s no way to know exactly what Tomkins is like behind the scenes, but his experience suggests he can help in a meaningful way. Some would rather see the organization move on and give the younger goalies every opportunity, but there’s also real value in having a veteran who can steady the group and guide the kids along.
If Tomkins can give the Condors dependable minutes and establish himself as a strong veteran voice, there’s a clear case for keeping him around. The Oilers have already seen what a quiet, useful goalie can do. Pickard is gone now, and someone has to fill that role.
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Oilers Roster Crunch Could Force Tough Waiver Calls Before Opening Night
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Puckpedias waiver watch has six names sitting closest to the edge, and another group hovering just behind them as the staff sorts out who can be kept, exposed, or risked elsewhere. Alex Formenton, Colton Dach, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Spencer Stastney, and Ty Emberson are among the bubble players trying to hold their ground, with the defensive depth chart creating the main pressure point. The next few roster moves should tell a lot about how the Oilers value experience, upside, and the short-term need to get under the limit without losing too much of what they have built. [Read more 🡒]
Darnell Nurse Just Reframed How His Oilers Exit Really Ended
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For Oilers fans, there is still a familiar mix of appreciation and finality in hearing Nurse describe the switch this way. He made clear that he has always loved hockey and welcomed the trade as a fresh start, while also acknowledging that his run in Edmonton had simply reached the point where a change made sense. Now the focus shifts to how he settles into San Jose and whether he can turn that new beginning into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Veterans Get First Chance To Set The Tone In Roster Battle
The preseason gets a little more serious for Edmonton on Friday night, with the Oilers opening against the Winnipeg Jets in a lineup that blends established NHL talent with players trying to force their way into the picture. Mike Babcock has made the early emphasis clear: puck care, detail and the kind of disciplined play that can separate a veteran from a bubble player when roster decisions start to loom.
Winnipeg is expected to counter with a younger group carrying limited NHL experience, which gives Edmonton a useful test of pace and habits as much as results. The Oilers will get their first real look at how some of the competition for spots handles a more demanding setting, and the tone set by the regulars should matter just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]