Edmonton Oilers

Can Calvin Pickard Move Up in the Oilers’ Goalie Hierarchy?

He stepped up in the playoffs. He won over the room. Now the question: can Calvin Pickard move up in Edmonton’s goalie plans?

by
Old Prof
February 13, 2026

Funny thing about Calvin Pickard. The guy bounced around the NHL forever, never really sticking anywhere. Then he gets a shot with the Oilers as a backup… and suddenly he’s killing it. Coaches threw him into some brutal situations—playoff games that needed a reset, and he came through. Just solid, reliable, calm under fire.

Then things got weird. The Oilers bring in another goalie, and suddenly, Pickard’s bumped down to number three. They even put him on waivers. He cleared. Now what?

Can Postseason Trust Lift Pickard Higher Up the Oilers’ Plans?

So here’s the big question: Can trust in the postseason actually pull him higher on the depth chart? He’s technically third, but he’s proven he can take the heat. His 2023-24 stats? In 23 NHL games, a 2.45 GAA, .909 save percentage, plus a short Bakersfield stint where he was unreal with a .939.

Talent’s not the issue—it’s getting the regular starts that matter. The guy can stop pucks. It’s really about whether Edmonton gives him the consistent chances to show it.

Pickard Makes the Oilers a Better Team

When Pickard’s in the net, the team just… plays differently. Guys skate harder, make smarter passes, and look more confident. What Pickard brings doesn’t show up on a stat sheet, but it matters on a winning team. Last season, he went 22-10-1 with a 2.71 GAA and a .900 save rate in the 36 games he played. That’s solid hockey.

And in the playoffs? He’s held his own too—three games in 2023-24 with a 2.21 GAA and a .915 save rate, then 10 games the next season, winning seven. That’s the kind of reliability you can lean on.

Calvin Pickard Oilers trade — Calvin Pickard of the Edmonton Oilers

Pickard Has a Positive Locker Room Impact

Pickard isn’t just a goalie. He’s the guy who keeps the locker room steady when the season gets long. His teammates trust him, and they show it—Leon Draisaitl and others made that clear when Pickard cleared waivers. That kind of respect doesn’t just stay in the locker room; it spills over into games. When he’s in the net, the team feels it.

What’s Next for Pickard?

Here’s the big question. Can playoff trust alone give Pickard a bigger role in Edmonton? One thing’s clear—if he gets the chance, he can rise to it. Don’t sleep on him. He could be a major part of Edmonton’s postseason. He has before.