Oilers sign Tyler Palmer to amateur tryout deal, will be EBUG against Kraken

The Edmonton Oilers have announced that they have signed goaltender Tyler Palmer to an amateur tryout deal and that he will become the emergency backup goaltender tonight versus the Seattle Kraken.

Goaltender Stuart Skinner and his wife, Chloe, are celebrating the birth of their baby boy.

Palmer currently plays for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the Canadian USports League where he has put up an 11-4-0 record to go with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage.

Palmer spent his major junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Victoria Royals and the Everett Silvertips. His best season comes last year during the 2023-24 campaign where he appeared in 46 games putting together a 30-9-2 record with Everett. Palmer was one of two WHL goaltenders to hit the 30-win milestone. Palmer captured the U.S. Division Humanitarian of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

Meanwhile, Palmer will be backstopping Calvin Pickard. Pickard has put together a 12-4-0 record this season. The Oilers re-signed Pickard to a two-year contract extension back in June.

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 was originally drafted by Colorado at No. 49 overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.