Jesse Puljujarvi to the Ducks?
By Phil Gretzky
Olivier Rodrigue
Goalie prospect Olivier Rodrigue might be starting to turn a corner in his pro career. He’s followed a similar path to Stuart Skinner as he largely struggled in Bakersfield and ECHL Wichita since he was drafted in the second round in 2018 but this season had a peak sv% of .920 which although it has dipped to .911 is still impressive for a player who couldn’t even crack the .900 mark his first two pro seasons. He’s currently tied for 15th in the AHL in sv% with that said .911 mark and is 29th in the AHL in sv% with 2.98.
Good thing too as since the start of the season Rodrigue has grabbed the starter’s job away from the struggling Calvin Pickard much like Skinner has that job now with the Oilers since Campbell has struggled.
If Rodrigue can build on this season over the next couple of years he’ll put himself in the conversation for an NHL spot and muddy the goaltending waters here in Edmonton even more.
His stats aren’t as impressive as Skinner’s were in his latter days in the minors, but if Rodrigue can follow the same development trajectory then he’s in good shape for the future.
Pro rookie free agent signing Ryan Fanti has also struggled in minimal time in Bakersfield and I can’t seem to find out if he’s playing for new ECHL affiliate Fort Wayne or in Bakersfield right now.
Reid Schaefer selected for Team Canada world junior team
Congratulations to last year’s first-round pick Reid Schaefer who was selected for Canada’s world juniors team. This will be a great feather in his cap. It’s hard to say what’s happening with him now – he’s 19 and in his fourth season of junior with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He could go back to junior as an overager or he could turn pro in Bakersfield after this season. Perhaps this tournament might determine his fate one way or the other for next season.