The Edmonton Oilers made a move on Sunday that, while not entirely out of left field, still caught plenty of folks off guard: veteran goaltender Calvin Pickard has been placed on waivers.
Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Pickard’s time in Edmonton - he could clear waivers and report to AHL Bakersfield. But there’s also a real chance another NHL team takes a flyer on the 33-year-old netminder, which would mark the end of his stint with the Oilers.
Pickard’s journey in Edmonton has been a bit of a roller coaster. He’s put together a respectable 39-23-4 record with the club, but this season’s numbers have dipped: 5-6-2 with an .871 save percentage. That kind of performance, especially in a league where backup goaltending can swing a playoff race, just wasn’t going to cut it with the Oilers looking to solidify their crease.
The writing was on the wall once Edmonton brought in Tristan Jarry in a deal that sent Stuart Skinner the other way. Even then, there was some thought that Pickard might stick around as the backup.
But Connor Ingram’s emergence changed that equation. Ingram’s been steady, and in today’s NHL, you don’t carry three goalies unless you absolutely have to.
So Pickard becomes the odd man out - a tough break for a player who’s carved out a journeyman career across the league. Drafted in the second round back in 2010 by the Colorado Avalanche, Pickard has also suited up for the Red Wings, Flyers, Coyotes, and Maple Leafs.
Across 165 NHL games, he’s posted a 74-77-14 record with a .901 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average. Solid, if unspectacular, numbers that reflect a goalie who’s done what’s been asked of him in a variety of roles.
This move signals a shift in the Oilers’ goaltending strategy - they’re tightening up the rotation, leaning into a more defined tandem, and betting on Ingram’s consistency behind Jarry. For Pickard, it’s a moment of uncertainty, but also potentially opportunity. Whether he clears waivers and heads to Bakersfield or lands with a new NHL club, he’s still got enough experience to be a valuable depth piece.
It’s not the ending anyone necessarily predicted for Pickard in Edmonton, but in a league where roles can change overnight, adaptability is everything.