Good to see Pickard get the win and he has been pretty good for the most part so far.
That said his rebound control was bad in this game. I dont see him being part of the solution here.
The team cant afford to have him as the backup once the playoffs start.
For sure there were some sketchy rebounds popping out last night. I wouldn’t argue that at all. My post was a reaction to fans (well, mostly one guy) who decided to come into the GDT and start raging on Pickard.
As to Pickard being part of the solution here, that depends on what you mean by ‘solution’. He’s won seven of his nine starts and has a .910. With Campbell’s game falling apart and the Oilers really having no one else to turn to, you could argue that he’s already come in and been part of turning the season around. Couldn’t really have asked for more from him.
As far as a longer term ‘solution’, you’re most likely correct. The seven wins he has this season equal the total wins he has in the NHL between 2017 and 2022. His .910 is significantly better than anything he’s put up in the NHL since 2016. Can he back up Skinner in the playoffs? That tandem sure doesn’t inspire much confidence, but for me that’s as much a result of not trusting Skinner as the starter as it is having Pickard as the backup.
I just think fans (in general) are dreaming about the number of deadline moves the Oilers can even make. We want a second pair defense, another utility center and a 1B type goaltender. I’m not that knowledgeable about the ins and outs of cap management, but I just don’t see the Oilers having the space to make all those additions. Unless Holland finds a way to remove Campbell from the equation, the team is probably going to have to make do with what they have in at least one of those areas. Like it or not, I think it’s quite possible that the Oilers go into the playoffs with Pickard and Campbell backing up Skinner. And I say that as a fan who thought goaltending was the number one thing that needed to be addressed in the previous offseason. I guess management felt differently. Do you have any reason to think they’ve changed their minds?