3 Trade Destinations For Oilers’ Pickard

The Edmonton Oilers are expected to make a change in net and considering Stuart Skinner's upside, highest level of play, and age, I'm thinking that the team sticks with him to more likely split the net rather than be the starter for now. That leaves Calvin Pickard as the goalie to move.

Although he has done well as a backup, he has to just be that. His numbers don't suggest that he should even be splitting time as he finished this season with a .900 SV% in the regular season and .886 SV% in the playoffs. As a cheap backup option behind a clear starter, he would do well and the team would be happy with what he can provide.

Seattle Kraken

Joey Daccord has become the clear starter for the Seattle Kraken and did well last season. Philipp Grubauer is the backup and hasn't done well for the team at any point since signing there ahead of the team's first season. The 28-year-old Daccord will start 55+ games and Grubauer will be bought out of his final two years. The Kraken don't necessarily need a $1 million AAV goalie, but it definitely doesn't hurt. Pickard will provide better numbers than Grubauer and the team will save some money to continue to upgrade. They haven't been quiet thus far this offseason and are expected to do even more.

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins had a down season plagued by injuries and sub-par performances. Even though Jeremy Swayman didn't do well as the clear starter after Linus Ullmark was traded to the Ottawa Senators, Swayman kept playing, leaving Joonas Korpisalo to sit on the bench the majority of the time. This didn't sit well with him and a change of scenery is best for him. If the Bruins can move him, they need a backup to come in. Pickard playing like a true backup behind Swayman would suit everyone better and once again, Pickard could possibly put up better numbers for much cheaper.

Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are going to be very cap-strapped after they expect to sign a number of their pending UFAs. That's what the rumors and reports suggest anyways. This'll mean that they will have to ice a very cheap backup. Vitek Vanecek probably isn't coming back, and even though the Oilers just lost to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final, it shouldn't stop them from trading Pickard who won't make a difference if they meet in the playoffs again. It is the Sergei Bobrovsky show for Florida for at least one more year. There won't be too many goalies as effective as Pickard for as cheap as he is for the Panthers to target this offseason.