The Edmonton Oilers suddenly find themselves in a situation that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a few months ago: too many goalies, not enough roster space. After years of searching for stability between the pipes, Edmonton now has a three-headed monster in net-and that’s not always a good thing.
With Tristan Jarry back from injury and Connor Ingram continuing his strong run, the Oilers are carrying three goaltenders. Calvin Pickard, the veteran of the group, has become the odd man out. While he's a respected presence in the locker room, his place on the roster is anything but secure-especially with the Olympic break looming and cap space tightening.
Pickard’s numbers this season haven’t done him any favors. He’s posted a 5-6-2 record, a goals-against average of 3.68, and a save percentage of .871. Not exactly the kind of stats that scream “trade value,” but in a league where goaltending depth is always at a premium-especially for teams in playoff contention-he could still draw interest.
Enter the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Flyers are in a tough spot right now. With Dan Vladar sidelined and Sam Ersson struggling to hold down the backup role, Philadelphia is in urgent need of help in goal.
According to team insider Jim Matheson, Flyers GM Danny Briere has his eye on Pickard. And after Saturday’s game against the Rangers-where Aleksei Kolosov was pulled after allowing three goals on three shots-it’s clear the Flyers are running out of options.
Pickard, 33, is in the final year of a two-year, $2 million extension he signed with Edmonton back in 2024. He’s a pending unrestricted free agent, and with Adam Henrique nearing a return from injury, the Oilers may soon be forced to make a move-either by trade or waivers.
That’s where things get interesting.
If the Flyers are desperate enough-and right now, they look like a team that’s teetering-Edmonton might be able to squeeze some value out of a potential deal. No one’s expecting a major return, but even a late-round pick or a minor asset beats losing Pickard on waivers for nothing.
There’s also the possibility of attaching a contract like Andrew Mangiapane’s $3.6 million deal to the transaction. That would give the Oilers some added flexibility heading into the trade deadline, which could be crucial for a team looking to make a serious push.
At the end of the day, this is about asset management. Pickard may not be putting up eye-popping numbers, but he’s a serviceable veteran who could offer some stability to a team in crisis.
For the Oilers, this is a chance to turn a roster logjam into something productive. For the Flyers, it might be a lifeline in a season that’s slipping away fast.
One thing’s clear: with the Olympic break around the corner and playoff races heating up, the goalie carousel is just getting started.