The Oilers have avoided a significant injury scare involving Calvin Pickard. Ahead of the regular season, no team wants to lose a key depth player, but that was the concern for Edmonton after Saturday night’s preseason game.
During the first period against the Seattle Kraken, defenseman Phil Kemp was pushed into his own goalie, Calvin Pickard, causing Pickard to fall and hit his head on the goalpost. Pickard left the game and did not return, having saved seven of eight shots before the incident, with the score tied at 1-1.
Head coach Kris Knoblauch provided an update after the Oilers’ 5-4 comeback win, stating Pickard was undergoing evaluation. On Sunday, Knoblauch reassured that Pickard was fine and expected to return to the ice in a few days, though his neck was still sore. The team is being cautious, but the situation isn’t serious.
Calvin Pickard
This news is a relief for the Oilers, as Pickard was a strong backup for Stuart Skinner last season, posting a 12-7-1 record with a .909 save percentage and 2.45 GAA in 23 appearances. Pickard also made his playoff debut, going 1-1 with a .915 save percentage and 2.21 GAA in two games, earning him a two-year, $2 million contract extension. His availability for the start of the 2024-25 season is crucial for the Oilers as they prepare for their Oct. 9 home opener against the Winnipeg Jets.
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