Yahoo Sports Oilers Get Good News On Calvin Pickard Injury
Oilers fans can let out a sigh of relief.
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After Calvin Pickard left Saturday night's game after a collision with Noah Philp, there were worries that a lengthy injury could throw a wrench into the team's plans. Thankfully, his injury doesn't seem to be too serious.
"We expect him to be back on the ice in a few days," head coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters after practice today.
"His neck is pretty sore, we're obviously being cautious, but he should be okay."
If Pickard were to miss the start of the regular season, the Oilers would've been in a tough spot cap-wise. They'd have had to carry three goalies with Pickard on the IR, meaning they'd have no room for a 13th forward.
As it is, Noah Philp and Raphael Lavoie are both knocking on the door of the big leagues, and one of them could still break camp with the team now that we know Pickard will be back soon.
This is a big year for Pickard, his first with a guaranteed roster spot since he started 50 games for the 2016-17 Colorado Avalanche. Pickard performed admirably in the wake of Jack Campbell's demotion last year, posting a .909 save percentage in the regular season and starting two playoff games.
He was rewarded for his strong season with a two-year, $2 million contract extension this offseason, the first one-way deal of his career. With this newfound stability, the Oilers hope the 32-year-old can be a steady backup for Stuart Skinner, likely starting around 30 games for the team. Thankfully, it seems like his season will start on time after all.
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