Oilers Sign Calvin Pickard To Multi-Year Extension

The Edmonton Oilers have extended pending UFA goalie Calvin Pickard to a two-year deal at $1 million AAV. This is his second contract with the Oilers and he is coming off of a two-year, $762,500 AAV contract that was expected to be played out in the AHL.

Cal Pickard’s two-year extension with #Oilers: 2 years x $1 million.

He came up big in Round 2 against Vancouver when needed most.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 28, 2024

To everyone's surprise, Pickard got his chance in the NHL with the Oilers fairly early in the season when the team started horribly and Jack Campbell was sent to the AHL. Pickard played well and was never sent back down.

In Pickard's 23 games with the Oilers during the regular season, he recorded a 2.45 GAA and .909 SV% and one shutout, good enough for a 12-7-1 record. His biggest moment of the season came in the second round of the playoffs when he stepped in and won Game 4 against the Vancouver Canucks to tie the series at 2-2 and then played well in a Game 5 loss. This allowed the Oilers to stay in the series and he did what a backup is supposed to do.

This signing of Pickard should lead to a Jack Campbell buyout or trade (if possible), but it is also very interesting considering the Oilers could lose Olivier Rodrigue on waivers if Pickard is the backup next season. This Pickard signing is to ensure organizational depth and options in net behind Stuart Skinner, but there will be questions throughout training camp now.