Edmonton Oilers

Former NHLer Won’t Rule Out Calvin Pickard Seeing Playoff Action

Is there a chance Calvin Pickard could see game action in these Stanley Cup Playoffs?

by
Jackson Weber
April 20, 2026

It came as somewhat of a surprise over the weekend to see Calvin Pickard recalled to the Edmonton Oilers on an emergency basis just before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

We learned soon after that neither Connor Ingram nor Tristan Jarry was injured, but rather that the Oilers prefer to carry three goalies throughout the postseason for extra insurance at arguably the most important position.

Barring something unforeseen, Pickard is unlikely to actually suit up in any games; however, one former NHL goaltender, Devan Dubnyk, isn’t willing to rule that out just yet.

Dubnyk said:

“He did it last year. I’m not saying it can happen again, I’m not saying it can’t happen again. But they’ve got a guy who literally came in last year, and the guys rallied behind him. Why wouldn’t he go in the net? And again, if that were to happen, would it happen the same way? I don’t know, but it was fun last year. Pickard came in and did more and more and more than you could ever expect from any backup goaltender around the league. And you know it’s fresh in people’s minds, so if that situation were to ever come up—if a game goes a little bit sideways—the chants for Calvin Pickard are gonna be coming,”

The 34-year-old Pickard went 5-6-2 while sporting a 3.68 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage in limited NHL action with the Oilers during the 2025–26 season.

Calvin Pickard Oilers goaltender NHL Trade Talk

It is important to remember that Pickard cannot play for the Oilers, barring an injury to Ingram or Jarry. Instead, Pickard will be tasked with a leadership role in the locker room and at practice as a veteran voice and beloved teammate who nobody wanted to see sent to the minors to begin with.

That being said, hockey fans know to expect the unexpected when it comes to the playoffs, and now that Pickard is at least back in Edmonton with the team, Dubnyk is right in saying that nothing can be ruled out with complete certainty.

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