The Edmonton Oilers may be focusing primarily on the near-term goal of a long postseason run, but that won’t stop them from looking to the future.
The team announced this morning the signing of Olivier Rodrigue to a one-year, two-way contract extension through the 2024–25 season. The deal carries an AAV of $775K in the NHL, and $125K in the AHL.
This was a no-brainer move, but a key decision for the team looking to the future in the net.
Is Rodrigue next in line in the Oilers depth chart?
Drafted 62nd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Rodrigue was long thought to be the potential next goaltender for the Oilers. This season he took a big step in the AHL playing in 32 games and coming up with a 17–10–4 record, posting a 2.71 GAA and 0.915 SV% at the time of writing. The 17 wins is a career-high for him in his young career.
Many thought that at the start of the season, Rodrigue would get a shot in the NHL with both Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell struggling. Unfortunately for Rodrigue fans, that didn’t happen. Calvin Pickard got the NHL call and Jack Campbell was sent to platoon the net in Bakersfield with Rodrigue for most of the season.
That being said, with Pickard on an expiring deal and playing well above what he was being paid this season, the team may look to try Rodrigue in the NHL long-term moving forward should they move out Campbell’s contract this summer.
It was a move that many saw coming, but is still one that is great for Rodrigue’s potential NHL career that could start next season.
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