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Oilers risk losing key player for nothing, which may block another trade
The Edmonton Oilers need to upgrade their goaltending next season, but it may cause the team to lose goalie Calvin Pickard for nothing on waivers.
Most recently, Oilers insiders have linked the team to being interested in multiple goalies that may hit waivers in training camp next year - including Michael DiPietro and Nico Daws. However, Pickard also may be on waivers.
Oilers risk of losing Pickard on waivers may block team from claiming a goalie at all
Both DiPietro and Daws have spent most of their time in the AHL last season, with the former posting far better results. Neither goalie has significant NHL experience, and without being tested at the highest level, it's hard to concretely call either an upgrade on the Oilers' current goalies.
There's a chance DiPietro and Daws could be AAAA players - too good for the AHL, but not good enough for the big league. Waiving Pickard and picking up someone else comes with the risk that they don't pan out, and Pickard is claimed elsewhere.
Oilers analyst Kurt Leavins with the Edmonton Journal believes it's not worth the risk to claim another goalie, and Edmonton should roll with the safe option who they've trusted before in the Stanley Cup Final.
If you take a swing on one of these guys and fail to sneak Calvin Pickard through waivers at $1m AAV, the risk is that in an effort to get better Stan Bowman could inadvertently make things worse.
- Kurt Leavins
- Kurt Leavins
Oilers should still claim another goalie on waivers even if it means losing Pickard
The Oilers goalie situation is dire enough that they have to take a risk to improve their crease, even if it comes at the expense of losing Pickard on waivers.
If the Oilers claim DiPietro or Daws, they actually free up nearly $200K in salary cap space. Making this move early in the season would be beneficial for accruing cap space, and give them low-leverage games to try out the new goalie.
Not only that, but there's a good argument to be made that Pickard himself is also a AAAA goalie. The 33 year old came to the Oilers with only 126 NHL games and 0 playoff appearances.
The Oilers are in the position to take a risk on a young goaltender available for free and see if they can nab an emerging talent. If Pickard is claimed on waivers than that's the cost, but there's also a good chance he wouldn't be with most team's goaltending set.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 19 | 631 ANSWERS Oilers risk losing key player for nothing, which may block another trade Do you think the Oilers will waive Pickard to claim DiPietro or Daws? | ||
| Yes | 348 | 55.2 % |
| No | 283 | 44.8 % |
| List of polls | ||