The Edmonton Oilers are the two-time reigning Western Conference Champions, though their hopes of bringing the Stanley Cup back to northern Alberta for the first time since 1990 has been dashed in each of the last two seasons by the rival Florida Panthers.
However, that’s all in the past now, and the Oilers are set to begin their Western Conference title defense this week when they open the Stanley Cup Playoffs once again against an opponent from Southern California. However, for the first time in five years, they’re opening the playoffs by facing the Anaheim Ducks rather than the Los Angeles Kings, whom they’d beaten in each of the last four years.
But before Game 1 of the Oilers and Ducks commences on Monday evening in Edmonton, the Oilers have announced an emergency roster move. While that sounds concerning, it’s a move out of precaution.
The Edmonton Oilers Have Called Up Goaltender Calvin Pickard From The AHL Under Emergency Conditions
The Oilers, who feature the tandem of Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry between the pipes heading into the postseason, have re-called goaltender Calvin Pickard from the American Hockey League affiliate Bakersfield Condors under emergency conditions.
The good news for the Oilers is that neither Jarry nor Ingram are injured, and that they simply prefer to carry three healthy goaltenders for the duration of the playoffs.
Pickard, who has appeared in both of the last Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Oilers along with his now-former teammate Stuart Skinner, was waived by the Oilers earlier this season after struggling heavily to begin the campaign. He wasn’t claimed, and was sent to the AHL.
He went 5-6-2 with a 3.68 goal-against average and a .871 save percentage this season with the Oilers, and also went 4-3-1 with a 3.26 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage with the Condors; he also had a lone shutout.
Meanwhile, Skinner has helped the Penguins reach the postseason for the first time since 2022; their last run ended in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal when now-former New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin beat Jarry on the power-play in overtime of Game 7.
The Oilers Completely Reworked Their Goaltending Department This Season
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman decided that the club could no longer wait for Stuart Skinner to rediscover his sense of consistency that showed flashes during each of the last two postseasons but ultimately faltered when it mattered most.
He and defenseman Brett Kulak were traded in mid-December to the Pittsburgh Penguins in return for Jarry and Sam Poulin.
However, the move has yielded mostly mixed results, as the kind of inconsistencies that plagued Jarry while a member of the Penguins continued during his early time with the Oilers.
Because of Jarry’s struggles, the Oilers have turned to Ingram, who had played the last several seasons with the Arizona Coyotes/Utah Mammoth organization. Thanks to his comeback into the NHL after a stay in the NHLPA Player Assistance Program, the Oilers named Ingram their nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy.
Ingram has gone 16-10-3 in his first year with the Oilers, posting a 2.60 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Oilers Forced Into Emergency Roster Move Right Before Playoffs