The Edmonton Oilers had a chance this summer to tweak their goaltending depth. A few names were floating around the market, and on paper, some looked like clear upgrades over backup Calvin Pickard.
Yet, the front office didn’t bite.
Did the Oilers Make the Right Call Sticking With Calvin Pickard?
According to insider Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast, the choice wasn’t just about stats or salary numbers.
“Hugely popular teammate. He’s on a million. Obviously, guys like [Michael] DiPietro and [Clay] Stevenson would be less. But Pickard, when he’s played, he’s gotten Ws for the Oilers,” he shared.
Inside the Oilers’ dressing room, Pickard has carved out a reputation that goes beyond the ice. Teammates describe him as easygoing, steady, and someone who keeps the mood light. That kind of presence, Friedman noted, can be tough to replace.
Options like Connor Ingram or Michael DiPietro were out there, but management worried about shaking up the chemistry that Pickard helps hold together.
“The only reason why I would even wonder is these guys make less than him. But it’s very, very clear that he’s a hugely popular player in that room,” Friedman added.
The team weighed the potential savings from Ingram’s contract but ultimately stuck with what they know.
“The way the players, to a man, talk about Pickard, I would be curious to see if the Oilers would want to unseat him. This is business,” Friedman said.
Why the Oilers Stayed Put
For Edmonton, the decision underscored a bigger truth: value isn’t always captured in save percentage charts. Pickard’s $1 million salary isn’t a bargain, but stability in the locker room can matter just as much as a decimal on the stat sheet when you’re chasing a Stanley Cup.
The preseason offered another reminder. On Sept. 26, Pickard stopped all 21 shots he faced in a 4-0 shutout of Winnipeg at Rogers Place. He looked sharp, stayed composed in scrambles, and drew praise from head coach Kris Knoblauch.
That gave Edmonton a 3-1-1 preseason record and reaffirmed Pickard’s spot in the rotation.
At 33, no one sees him as the future of the crease. But in two tune-up games, he’s faced 29 shots without letting one slip past. For a backup tasked with giving Stuart Skinner breathers during the grind of the season, that kind of steadiness is what matters.
The Oilers are betting that Pickard’s steady presence, paired with Skinner’s development, is enough to carry them through another long run.
Management seems comfortable sticking with a known quantity instead of chasing an upgrade that might upset the balance. Whether that gamble holds up will only become clear once the puck drops for real.
