Whatever Happened to Former Oilers Goalie Calvin Pickard?
Usually, when I write “whatever happened” posts, it’s about a player who’s been gone from a team for more than a couple of seasons. But for many Oilers fans, Calvin Pickard has a place in their hearts. He was well respected for his work ethic and his ability to show up when the team needed him. While he’s been gone for only a short time, here’s an update for Oilers fans who came to appreciate the hard-working backup.
Calvin Pickard is one of those guys whose resilience demands respect.
Pickard was never going to be confused with the big-name goalies who have passed through the Oilers' crease. He wasn't supposed to be the answer to everything. He was the backup. The guy you called on when the starter needed a night off or when things weren't going particularly well. And somewhere along the way, Oilers fans came to appreciate him.
That's probably because Pickard understood the job. He didn't need to be the star. He just needed to give the team a chance. So where is he now? Well, Pickard is still doing what he does best — hanging around the NHL and waiting for his opportunity.
The 34-year-old is now with the Minnesota Wild, and he has a good opportunity to start the 2026-27 season. Filip Gustavsson is expected to miss about a month with a hip injury, which means Pickard could see more work than a typical backup would.
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Pickard started a preseason game for the Wild last night.
He got another preseason start Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks, stopping 16 of 20 shots in a 4-3 overtime loss. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece. Pickard gave up one goal in each period before Bowen Byram scored the overtime winner less than 30 seconds in. But here's the thing about preseason goaltending: sometimes the box score isn't the whole story.
Pickard has now played Minnesota's last two preseason games and stopped 30 of 36 shots. Those numbers won't make anybody carve his name on the Stanley Cup just yet, but Minnesota doesn't need him to. The Wild need him to hold the fort. And that's a job Pickard has done before.
That's what Oilers fans probably remember about him. There were nights when Pickard wasn't spectacular, but he wasn't the reason Edmonton lost either. For a backup goalie, that's a lot of value.
Can Pickard take advantage of another chance to stay in the NHL?
Pickard isn't trying to reinvent himself. He's trying to stay in the NHL, take advantage of opportunities and prove that he can still give a team reliable minutes when needed. Right now, Minnesota needs exactly that. So, yes, Calvin Pickard is still around.
And for those of us who watched him in Edmonton, it's kind of nice to see that the old backup goalie is still finding ways to stick around. Maybe that's what good backups do.