As with last season, the Edmonton Oilers' goalie situation has stabilised after a rough sort. Stuart Skinner has won seven of his past 10 outings, while Calvin Pickard is proving to be a reliable backup as he was in 2023-24.
At the same time however, this doesn't mean the Oilers situation in net is without some questions. As we wrote on Friday, Skinner still causes concern with his ongoing inconsistency between the pipes, while Pickard will turn 33 before the regular season concludes, alluding to him not providing long-term relief in Edmonton.
Ahead of Saturday's slate of action, the Oilers are ranked 12th-best in the NHL with a 2.88 Goals Against Average (GAA). They are performing worse when it comes to team save percentage, ranking tied-23rd at .895 percent, and just for 'good' measure, the penalty kill is only 26th with a 74.0 percent efficiency.
While this isn't just on the goalies -- the defensive play of the team in general has experienced some severe lapses this season -- it does give the opportunity to contemplate another of the Oilers' options in net. More specifically, Oliver Rodrigue.
Top rated Oilers goalie prospect
Selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL draft, Rodrigue is considered a top goalie prospect for the Oilers. He has intriguing upside, helped by excellent athleticism and tremendous lateral movement, although he has yet to make his NHL debut.
Last season was the best yet for the 24-year-old, as he led all Bakersfield Condors goalies with a career-high 17 wins. He also set personal single-season bests with a .915 save percentage and 2.72 GAA, resulting in a new one-year, two-way deal.
While only getting one year alludes to Rodrigue still theoretically having to prove himself to the Oilers organisation, he has continued to excel this season in Bakersfield. In fact he's playing better than ever.
Rodrigue taking his game to new heights in 2024-25
The Condors have been the essence of a .500 team thus far, with a 10-10-4 record through 24 games. However, individually speaking, Rodrigue is 8-5-2 in 15 games for the Oilers' AHL affiliate, compared to backup Collin Delia going 2-5-2 in nine outings.
The Chicoutimi, Quebec native has produced a .923 save percentage and 2.53 GAA thus far, which both project to new career-bests. This includes Friday night, when he put on his best performance yet in 2024-25.
Rodrigue stopped all 33 shots he faced, as the Condors blanked the San Jose Barracuda 2-0 at home. It represented the second shutout of his AHL career, as he deservedly took home the First Star of the Game.
While a total team effort, it still reflects well on Rodrigue that the team's penalty kill unit was flawless on four Barracuda's power play opportunities. Consider that entering the night, the Barracuda had the second-best power play efficiency in the league.
To be clear, Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch is satisfied as things stand with his goalie situation and their potential/talent. And understandably so, given that the tandem of Skinner and Pickard backstopped the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Final last season.
However, it must be reassuring to the organisation to have such a promising prospect in the AHL who is playing well. Pending how things go this season, you know that Rodrigue will be ready and waiting to step up to the NHL, if the opportunity presents itself.