Yahoo Sports Oilers Prospect Has Earned New Deal
EDMONTON -- When you have young talent, you keep that young talent.
Even though the Edmonton Oilers are hunting for their first Stanley Cup in over 30 years, they must prioritize keeping young talent. The main reason for that is that young talent is often inexpensive.
Given their cap restraints this season, they must prevent further issues by extending contracts to players who should be with the team long-term.
Olivier Rodrigue.
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Additionally, goaltenders play a pivotal role on a hockey team. Stopping the puck is just as important as scoring goals, which is what Olivier Rodrigue does best.
The Bakersfield Condors starting netminder is having another great season. Here are two reasons why the Oilers must proactively get him signed to a multi-year extension.
Future Of Oilers Net Is Uncertain
Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard are the goalies of right now for the Oilers. Both netminders have deals that expire at the end of next season.
Given this uncertainty, locking up a 24-year-old netminder to a multi-year extension is the organization's best succession plan. No other goalie is closer to being a starting netminder than Rodrigue.
Rodrigue's current deal pays him $775,000 for the rest of the season. Signing him to a deal worth $2 - $3 million for the next four years would be an incredible bargain for the organization.
That also puts less pressure on the organization to sign both Skinner and Pickard after their deals expire.
Staple of Consistency
Rodrigue has now played 112 AHL games over the course of five seasons, and this season is his third consecutive season with over 20 games.
He's put together an incredibly consistent streak of good results:
Season | Games Played | W-L-OTL Record | Goals Against Average (GAA) | Save Percentage (SV%) | Shutouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022-23 | 29 | 14-14-1 | 2.77 | .912 | 0 |
2023-24 | 37 | 19-12-5 | 2.73 | .916 | 0 |
2024-25 | 22 | 12-7-3 | 2.73 | .914 | 1 |
Over three seasons, his goals against average (GAA) and save percentage have deviated 0.04 points. That is incredible consistency.
It would be no trouble for the organization to see Rodrigue be the backup goaltender once Pickard's deal expires. Until then, he can be the first call-up whenever there is an injury to either NHL netminder.
Rodrigue has done more than enough to earn a multi-year deal, which is the best option given the team's future at that position.
He's young and talented, and it's in the Oilers' best interest to keep him.
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