Oilers’ Goalie Woes Deepen as Pickard Struggles
So, here’s the situation with Calvin Pickard and the Edmonton Oilers right now — and honestly, it’s a bit of a mess. Over the past six games, Pickard has been having what can only be described as a nightmare in net. His save percentages over those games have been shockingly low — numbers like .800, .762, .864, .852, .815, and .818. Those aren’t just bad, they’re alarming. Thursday’s game in Columbus, where he let in five goals on 25 shots, dropped his season save percentage to a worrying .830, and it’s really making it clear that the Oilers are in trouble between the pipes.
Now, to be fair, this isn’t about Pickard being a bad teammate. From all reports, he’s well-liked in the locker room and works hard. But the reality is simple: the team can’t afford to keep struggling while waiting for him to rediscover his form. Edmonton desperately needs stability in goal, but here’s the rub — the goalie market is practically empty right now.
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Even if GM Stan Bowman wanted to make a move, there’s really nothing worthwhile available. Most of the options out there are either overpriced or underperforming backups who wouldn’t be much of an upgrade. And if Bowman shows any sign of desperation, the asking price from other teams will only skyrocket. The Oilers simply don’t have the prospects, draft picks, or salary flexibility to land a top-tier goalie like Juuse Saros, even if Nashville were open to a trade. So, realistically, going out and finding a replacement isn’t as simple as just picking up a new player.
That leaves Pickard as the known quantity for Edmonton. Despite his rough stretch, he has a track record that suggests he can bounce back — the problem is timing. Until a realistic, affordable, and available solution emerges, the Oilers are effectively stuck with him and Stuart Skinner in net. It’s a tense situation because the team can’t afford to lose ground while waiting for Pickard to turn things around, yet the alternatives are almost nonexistent.
In short, the Oilers are caught in a difficult bind. Pickard’s struggles have highlighted the fragility of their goaltending situation, but the empty market leaves them with very few options. For now, it’s about hoping that Pickard can rediscover his game and stabilize the net before Edmonton’s playoff hopes start slipping further away.
It’s a tough spot, no doubt, and for Oilers fans, the next few weeks will be a real test of patience and resilience as the team navigates this goalie crisis.
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