The Oilers continue to win games, but the season has not felt smooth. Changes in net and shifting roles have created tension behind the scenes, and those moves often put focus on stability in addition to performance. They also reveal how players view one another in the room.
Forward Leon Draisaitl Comments on Calvin Pickard Getting Sent to AHL
Edmonton’s goaltending picture has been unsettled for much of the season, and the numbers reflect that inconsistent stretch. As a team, Oilers goalies sit with a 3.25 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.
Stuart Skinner posted a 2.83 GAA with an .891 save percentage in 23 games, while Calvin Pickard struggled in limited action. Those results pushed management toward roster changes as the season moved along. They traded Skinner to Pittsburgh for Tristan Jarry in the first half of December.
Pickard continued to struggle with a 3.68 GAA and .871 save percentage across 16 appearances, and so he slipped to third on the depth chart behind Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram. That led Edmonton to place him on waivers on Sunday. He cleared waivers Monday, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, and was assigned to the AHL.
The 33-year-old last played on Jan. 8 against the Winnipeg Jets and holds a 5-6-2 record this season. Pickard is in the final year of a two-year contract with a $1 million cap hit and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
While the move was rooted in performance and roster fit, it did not go unnoticed in the locker room.
Speaking with Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Leon Draisaitl made his support clear when asked about Pickard’s demotion. “I think I speak for everyone in here. He’s one of the greatest teammates all of us have had,” Draisaitl said.
Pickard’s career has been built on persistence and adaptability. Drafted by Colorado in the second round in 2010, he has played for six NHL teams and appeared in 191 career games.
Pickard’s career record stands at 74-77-14 with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. That experience made him a dependable option when called upon, even if results were harder to find this season.
Draisaitl’s comments came during a stretch where the Oilers have tried to regain rhythm after a choppy run. He recently returned from a brief leave to Germany due to a family illness and marked his return after missing three games against Vancouver, St. Louis, and New Jersey.
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In the Oilers’ recent 7-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild, Draisaitl scored early and recorded his 1,034th career point. With this goal, he tied Mark Messier for fourth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list.
Despite the ups and downs, the Oilers remain competitive. They hold a 28-20-8 record and are placed near the top of the Pacific Division with 64 points, and own the league’s top power play at 31.2 percent. The Oilers will look to stay on track when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 3, with puck drop set for 8:30 p.m. ET.
