Edmonton Oilers unexpectedly place goalie Calvin Pickard on waivers

There is a new addition to the NHL waiver wire today, as the Edmonton Oilers have decided to put veteran goalie Calvin Pickard, who had been facing an uncertain future with the team, on waivers.

Pickard will have 24 hours to either be claimed by any of the 31 other NHL teams, or otherwise clear waivers and subsequently be sent to the American Hockey League affiliate Bakersfield Condors.

Pickard, who is a pending UFA at the end of the year, hasn't posted the best stats this year, going 5-6-2 with a .871 SV% and no shutouts. He implied recently that he knows his days with the Oilers could be numbered, and now the other shoe has fallen.

The Oilers, who already made a major trade this year by sending away the inconsistent Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of a package to acquire Tristan Jarry, are now moving on from Pickard.

Both Skinner and Pickard have been the tandem for the Oilers in each of their last two runs to the Stanley Cup Final, but management decided they couldn't wait for either of them to rediscover any kind of consistency.

Pickard further became expendable when the Oilers acquired Connor Ingram from the Utah Mammoth, who has posted much better numbers.

Pickard has played for multiple teams in his NHL career and has gone 74-77-14 with a .901 SV% and also has five shutouts.