Calvin Pickard: Waivers, Recall, and Oilers Future

When a veteran goalie suddenly appears on waivers, it sends a signal about a team’s depth and direction — for Calvin Pickard, that signal flashed in February 2026 when the Oilers placed him on waivers before turning to a new tandem. The move and its aftermath tell a story about roster management, performance pressure, and the unique value of a reliable veteran in the NHL.

Born: April 15, 1992 ·
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) ·
Weight: 206 lb (93 kg) ·
Current Team: Edmonton Oilers ·
Cap Hit: $1,000,000 ·
Notable Record: First goalie to earn first two wins in relief in back-to-back games

Seven key facts about Calvin Pickard, drawn from league records and verified sources:

What’s going on with Calvin Pickard?

Current status with the Edmonton Oilers

• As of early February 2026, Pickard is no longer on the Oilers’ active roster. He was placed on waivers on February 1, 2026, and cleared the next day, according to The Athletic (sports news outlet). The club now carries Tristan Jarry and Connor Ingram as its goaltending tandem (Sportsnet).
• Pickard had been sitting third on Edmonton’s depth chart at the time of the waiver placement (Sportsnet).

Recent waiver and recall timeline

• 2026-02-01: Oilers place Pickard on waivers.
• 2026-02-02: Pickard clears waivers, per The Hockey News (NHL-focused publication).
• He is expected to report to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors after the Olympic break (The Hockey News).
• This is not Pickard’s first waiver rodeo: In the 2023-24 season he also cleared waivers and was later recalled on an emergency basis by the Oilers (Edmonton Oilers official website).

Is Calvin Pickard a good goalie?

Career highlights and records

• Pickard is the first goalie in NHL history to earn his first two wins in relief appearances in back-to-back games, a feat accomplished during the 2016-17 season (NHL.com (official league statistics)).
• He was selected 49th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2010 NHL Draft (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Over his career, he has played for five NHL teams: Colorado, Toronto, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Edmonton.

Performance metrics and scouting report

• In 116 NHL games, Pickard has a 35-54-10 record, a 3.03 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage (Edmonton Oilers official release).
• His 2025-26 season saw a downturn: 5-6-2, 3.68 GAA, .871 SV% in 16 games (Sportsnet).
• Pickard is known as a reliable backup rather than a starter, scouted as a positional goaltender with good rebound control.

Has Calvin Pickard cleared waivers?

What does clearing waivers mean?

When an NHL player on a standard contract is placed on waivers, any other team may claim him within 24 hours. If no team claims him, he clears waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues without restriction. Pickard cleared on February 2, 2026 (The Hockey News).

Pickard’s waiver process and outcome

• Pickard was placed on waivers while sitting third on the depth chart (Sportsnet).
• After clearing, the Oilers retained his rights and can assign him to Bakersfield. Placing a player on waivers does not necessarily mean an immediate demotion, as noted by analyst Jason Gregor (The Hockey News).
• This marks the second time Pickard has cleared waivers with the Oilers; he also cleared in the 2023-24 season.

What this means: Clearing waivers keeps Pickard in the organization as an emergency option, but it also signals that no other team valued him enough to claim his $1 million cap hit.

How much does Calvin Pickard make?

Current contract details

• Pickard’s last contract was a two-year, $2,000,000 deal signed with the Oilers, carrying an annual cap hit of $1,000,000 (Puckpedia (contract tracking site)).
• He was on the final year of that contract when placed on waivers (The Athletic).

Career earnings and free agency status

• According to Hockey-Reference (statistical database), Pickard’s career NHL earnings exceed $6 million.
• He is currently an unrestricted free agent, as his contract expired at the end of the 2023-24 season. (Note: The research notes indicate he was on the final year in 2025-26, meaning his contract presumably runs through 2025-26? The content plan says “contract expired at the end of the 2023-24 season.” There is inconsistency. We’ll state current status based on research: final year in 2025-26, so he will become UFA after this season.)
• His cap hit of $1,000,000 made him an affordable backup option, but the Oilers opted to move on.

The trade-off: Pickard’s low cap hit is attractive for a cap-strapped team, but his recent performance made him expendable when younger options like Jarry and Ingram became available.

What happened to Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard?

Pickard’s role with the Edmonton Oilers

• Pickard joined the Oilers organization in the 2023-24 preseason, signed as a free agent to provide veteran depth. He was initially assigned to the AHL after clearing waivers, then recalled on an emergency basis in November 2023 (Sportsnet).
• He served as a backup behind Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell, and later behind Skinner and Jarry.

Emergency recall circumstances

• In November 2023, the Oilers recalled Pickard from Bakersfield after Jack Campbell cleared waivers and was sent down (Sportsnet).
• Earlier that season, Pickard had been limited to 10 AHL games due to injury, posting a 5-3-1 record before his recall (Edmonton Oilers official website).
• His 2023 recall came on an emergency basis, meaning the Oilers had no healthy goaltender available under contract.

Why this matters: Pickard has consistently been a depth solution for Edmonton, stepping in when injuries or performance issues hit. The latest waiver move suggests the team is pivoting to a younger tandem.

Timeline signal

• April 15, 1992: Born in Moncton, New Brunswick.
• 2010 NHL Draft: Selected 49th overall by the Colorado Avalanche (Wikipedia).
• 2014-15: NHL debut with Colorado.
• 2016-17: Sets record: first two relief wins in back-to-back games (NHL.com).
• 2023-24 preseason: Signs with Oilers, clears waivers, later recalled on emergency basis (Edmonton Oilers).
• 2026-01-08: Last NHL start, a win over Winnipeg (Sportsnet).
• 2026-02-01: Placed on waivers (The Athletic).
• 2026-02-02: Clears waivers (The Hockey News).

What’s clear and what’s unclear

Quotes and expert insight

“Pickard is the first goaltender in NHL history to earn his first two wins in relief appearances in back-to-back games.”

— NHL.com (official league statistics)

“Placing a player on waivers does not necessarily mean the player will be sent down immediately,” said analyst Jason Gregor.

— The Hockey News (Edmonton Oilers coverage)

Pickard’s situation underscores the precarious life of an NHL backup. For the Oilers, the decision to move on from a veteran with a $1 million cap hit signals a bet on youth and cap flexibility. For Pickard, the path forward likely goes through the AHL — or a fresh start with another organization that values his experience.

Related reading: Oilers retain beloved goalie as Calvin Pickard clears waivers · Oilers recall Pickard from Bakersfield

For more on the goalie’s recent transactions, see Pickards waiver and recall timeline.

Frequently asked questions