Pickard is expected to be the first of several “Black Aces” recalled from the Bakersfield Condors. He started the season, but after struggling to find his groove and posting fairly lackluster numbers, the Oilers placed him on waivers in early February before assigning him to the AHL.
Across 16 NHL appearances this season, Pickard went 5-6-2 with a .871 save percentage and a 3.68 goals-against average. After his demotion, he also saw AHL action with the Condors, where he posted a 4-3-1 record, a .886 save percentage, and a 3.26 goals-against average over eight games, with modest improvement but still inconsistent results overall.
This is not a move to suggest that Pickard will see playing time in the postseason. Connor Ingram remains the team’s starter and has not lost the net, given how well he’s played. However, there are questions about Tristan Jarry, as his results after returning from injury haven’t been good. Pickard could, in a sky-is-falling situation, become the backup.