The Edmonton Oilers are facing a critical juncture in their goaltending situation early in the 2025-26 season, as evidenced by the decision to start Calvin Pickard over Stuart Skinner in their recent game against the Vancouver Canucks. This move comes after a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames, where Skinner's performance was heavily scrutinized.
Skinner's struggles in the game against Calgary, particularly a costly misplay that led to a game-tying goal, have amplified existing concerns about his ability to be a reliable, championship-caliber goaltender. While Skinner acknowledged the mistake and expressed optimism about a quick fix, the incident appears to have prompted Head Coach Kris Knoblauch to give Pickard a chance.
"He's on the clock," according to Oilers insiders Bob Stauffer and TSN's Ryan Rishaug, who emphasized that Skinner must demonstrate his readiness to be the team's No. 1 goalie or face potential changes. Rishaug noted that the Oilers have committed to evaluating Skinner for a period, but if he doesn't show significant improvement, he "won't be here" and certainly "will not be in net for game one of the playoffs".
Calvin Pickard, who re-signed with the Oilers on a two-year, $2 million extension in June 2024, now has a significant opportunity to prove his worth. Pickard served as Edmonton's backup last season, posting a solid 22-10-1 record with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. He also stepped up in the playoffs, leading the Oilers to a comeback against the Los Angeles Kings. Pickard has a career 2.91 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage in 175 games played.
The Oilers also have veteran goalie Connor Ingram in the system, acquired in a trade a couple of weeks ago and currently playing with the Bakersfield Condors. Ingram is viewed as an insurance policy and is working to get up to speed after missing training camp. Keith Gretzky, the hockey boss in Bakersfield, anticipates Ingram will be playing regularly in the next couple of weeks.
General Manager Stan Bowman emphasized that Skinner and Pickard are the team's current goaltending tandem, with Ingram providing depth. However, Bowman also acknowledged that all three goalies are in the final year of their contracts, creating uncertainty about the long-term goaltending situation.
The decision to start Pickard reflects the pressure on the Oilers to solidify their goaltending and the short leash Skinner appears to be on. According to reports, the team has lost three consecutive season openers at home, and if Skinner cannot regain trust and demonstrate consistency, Bowman may explore other options.
Ultimately, the Oilers' success hinges on finding a reliable goaltender, and the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Skinner can solidify his role or if Pickard, or perhaps even Ingram, will emerge as the answer in net.
