Stuart Skinner Injury Forces Oilers Into Goalie Re-shuffle

3 weeks ago  /  NHL Trade Rumors  /  Read Time: 1 minute 28 seconds

The Edmonton Oilers have called up goaltending prospect Olivier Rodrigue from the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors to serve as Calvin Pickard’s backup after starter Stuart Skinner exited last night’s loss to the Dallas Stars in the third period. Skinner was inadvertently struck in the head by the knee of Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen. To stay cap-compliant, the Oilers assigned center Derek Ryan to Bakersfield in a corresponding move.The #Oilers have recalled goaltender Olivier Rodrigue from the @Condors on an emergency basis & loaned forward Derek Ryan to Bakersfield. pic.twitter.com/F3Bh4F23J3— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 27, 2025Rodrigue, 24, was Edmonton’s second-round pick (62nd overall) in 2018. Though he was the second goaltender selected that year—after the Rangers took Olof Lindbom at No. 39—neither has yet played an NHL game. Several goalies drafted later, including Justus Annunen (64th), Lukáš Dostál (85th), Joel Hofer (107th), and Samuel Ersson (143rd), have since established themselves as NHL regulars. A 6’1", left-catching netminder, Rodrigue has generally performed well in the minors but has struggled this season, posting a 3.05 GAA, .899 SV%, and an 18-15-7 record in 40 games with Bakersfield.This marks a step back for Rodrigue, who had previously recorded save percentages of .912 and .916 over the past two AHL seasons. His earlier success earned him a two-way extension last March, including a $150K guarantee. While he remains a long-term option for Edmonton, his recent form doesn’t inspire much confidence as a short-term replacement for Skinner, who has now left two of his last three starts due to head injuries and is presumably in concussion protocol.Skinner’s potential absence complicates Edmonton’s playoff push, especially after the team opted not to address its goaltending issues at the trade deadline. The Oilers have slipped to third in the Pacific Division (41-25-5) behind the Los Angeles Kings, with just a 14.9% chance of reclaiming second place, per MoneyPuck—a figure that could dip further without Skinner.As for Ryan, the 38-year-old center was recalled last week for his first NHL stint since January. He appeared in the last two games, recording a hit and a shot on goal while winning 10 of 15 faceoffs. With Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid sidelined short-term, the Oilers are already thin up front and may need to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen in tonight’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken.Image - Andy Abeyta - Imagn ...

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