Edmonton Oilers re-sign goalie Calvin Pickard to two-year contract 

On Friday from Las Vegas ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, it was reported and confirmed that the Edmonton Oilers have re-signed goaltender Calvin Pickard to a two-year contract extension. 

Pickard’s contract will be worth $2 million, with a $1 million average annual value beginning in 2024-25. He was a pending unrestricted free agent ahead of July 1. 

Pickard wrapped up an important 2023-24 season with the Oilers. In 20 starts, his most since starting 48 games in 2016-17 with the Colorado Avalanche, the 32-year-old went 12-7-1 with a .909 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and one shutout. 

In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pickard only played three games, the first of his career. But they were vital starts for the Oilers, who were reeling in their tough second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks and needed better goaltending.

Pickard replaced Stuart Skinner in Game 3 and stopped all three shots in a 4-3 loss. He was excellent in Game 4, making 21 saves in a 3-2 Edmonton win that tied the series 2-2. He followed that up by stopping 35 of 38 in a Game 5 loss, his final game of the postseason. Skinner led the Oilers the rest of the way to the Stanley Cup Final and eventually all the way to Game 7 before falling to the Florida Panthers.

In his career, Pickard has gone 47-61-11 over 139 regular-season games. He made his NHL debut with the Avalanche in 2014-15 and has played nine seasons with the Avalanche, Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings and Oilers. 

Since his career-high 48 starts in 2016-17, Pickard had played only 30 games over five seasons until 2023-24. He jump-started his career last season with Edmonton and earned an extension for it.

Pickard was originally drafted by Colorado in the second round (No. 49) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.