Olivier Rodrigue receives much deserved contract extension from Oilers
The Oilers have rewarded Olivier Rodrigue with a new one-year deal, to keep him with the organisation that selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft.
By Paul Taylor
Olivier Rodrigue is staying with the Oilers organisation. They officially confirmed on Saturday, that the goalie has been signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension through the end of next season.
Set to become a restricted free agent after the 2023-24 campaign, financial terms of Rodrigue's deal have not been announced by the Oilers. However, according to PuckPedia, the deal has a guaranteed salary of $150,000, and is worth $775,00 at the NHL level and $125,000 in the AHL.
The timing of the announcement is one of those many wonderful ironies in professional sports. It comes one day after the 23-year-old had his third-worst save percentage of the season with the Condors, in a 4-2 loss to the lowly Silver Knights.
Fully deserved new deal for Rodrigue
At the same time however, don't mistake this for alluding to Rodrigue not deserving the contract extension. He has more than earned his new deal, with how he's played overall in Bakersfield this season.
The 2018 62nd overall draft pick leads all Condors goalies with 17 wins in 2023-24, which is a career-high. He has also set single-season bests, with a .915 save percentage and 2.72 Goals Against Average (GAA).
Rodrigue proved his worth earlier this season, when he took over from Jack Campbell as the Condors' main goalie. And while he hasn't been quite as effective of late, he still forms one of the better one-two goalie combos in the AHL, alongside a revitalised Campbell, (who is currently out injured, but is only listed as day-to-day).
The Chicoutimi, Quebec native has played parts of four seasons with the Condors in Bakersfield. In that time he has produced 41-34-8 record in 85 total games, along with a .908 save percentage and 2.83 GAA.
Rodrigue has intriguing upside, helped by excellent athleticism and tremendous lateral movement, but whether he actually plays a regular season game in Edmonton remains to be seen. Next season's training camp will be an important one for him.
Next. 3 Oilers who won’t be back next season. 3 Oilers who won’t be back next season. dark
If Rodrigue does not make the Oilers' opening night roster, he will have to clear waivers in order to return to Bakersfield. Given his talent and potential, it would be quite easy to see another NHL organisation claim him, especially when factoring in his team-friendly new contract which is now in place.
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