NHL analyst believes Calvin Pickard's days in Edmonton are numbered after recent development
Photo credit: Oilers Nation
After Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram, who was called up from the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors got his third straight start, one NHL analyst believes the days of Calvin Pickard with the team are numbered.
Not long after the Edmonton Oilers acquired goaltender Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was hurt in a game against the Boston Bruins, which was just his third game in an Oilers sweater.
The Oilers have since turned to Connor Ingram, who was acquired from the Utah Mammoth earlier this season, to get the bulk of the starts since the injury. He'll get his third straight start tonight against the divisional foe Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
This means that Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch believes that they currently have a better chance to win with Ingram than with backup Calvin Pickard, who initially replaced Jarry when he was hurt.
Does this mean that Pickard's time with the Oilers is beginning to wind down to a close?
Per analyst Paul Almeida, he believes that Pickard's days with the Oilers are numbered.
Pickard is cooked. NHL trade freeze ends at midnight tonight. - Paul Almeida
Calvin Pickard Is A Pending Unrestricted Free Agent After This Season
The tandem of Pickard and Stuart Skinner, who was recently traded to the Penguins in the Tristan Jarry deal, didn't do much to intimidate opponents.
In fact, Pickard's SV% is the worst in the NHL among eligible goaltenders, while at the same time, Ingram's was the worst of eligible goaltenders in the AHL at the time of his call up.
But since Ingram has found short-term success with the Oilers since being called up, Edmonton will be trying to ride the hot hand.
Like his now-ex teammate Skinner, Pickard is a pending UFA at the end of the season.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 27 | 143 ANSWERS NHL analyst believes Calvin Pickard's days in Edmonton are numbered after recent development Will Calvin Pickard be traded by the Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 91 | 63.6 % |
| No | 52 | 36.4 % |
| List of polls | ||