Oilers goalie roster spot secure for the 2025-26 NHL season

Calvin Pickard arrived in Edmonton on a very team-friendly two-year contract, at a cap hit of $1M; he was never meant to be a starter for the Oilers, or play in tandem with Stuart Skinner as the team's 1A/1B goalies.

We saw last year how valuable having a competent back-up goalie can be, with Calvin Pickard winning seven games in seven starts, and finishing the post-season with a 2.85 GAA. He ultimately helped lead the Oilers reach game-6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The year before that, though he only played in two playoff games, Calvin went 1-1, with a 2.21 GAA and .915 SV%.

Yet, to qualify for the playoffs, you must win in the regular season; Calvin has done that in both years he's been an Edmonton Oiler.

In 2023-24, Pickard's record as a back-up goalie was 12-7-1, with a very good 2.45 GAA and .909 SV%, while in 2024-25, he recorded a slash-line of 22-10-1, 2.71 GAA and .900 SV%.

Again, at a cap hit of $1M, Cavin Pickard's value to the Oilers is high, and quite efficient. Compared to the back-up goalies that might be available in the free agent market currently, Pickard makes the most sense.

Pickard has demonstrated he can step in and perform at a high level when called upon, including during key moments in the 2025 playoffs, notably when he went on a 7- 1 run.

In fact, Pickard's strong play provided the Oilers with a crucial spark in the 2024-25 playoffs, particularly when starter Stuart Skinner struggled and he took over in Game 3 of the 1st-round against the Kings, the Oilers were down 2-0, and led them to 4-straight wins to close out the series.

It is this kind of reliability in the Oilers' back-up netminder that should have Calvin's roster-spot secured in 2025-26.