Former Edmonton Oilers goalie Olivier Rodrigue signs with KHL team

Why did the Edmonton Oilers not keep Olivier Rodrigue?

The Oilers selected the former Drummondville Voltigeurs netminder in the second round in 2017, and he has spent his entire career with the team. Since the 2020–21 season, Rodrigue has spent nearly every year with the Bakersfield Condors, earning the starting role two seasons back. Last year, Rodrigue played 41 games for a weak Condors side, ending with an 18–16–8 record and a 0.897 save percentage. He also played in two NHL games, but his save percentage during that time was a forgettable 0.862.

How do the Oilers use their goaltenders going into the 2025–26 season?

Despite playing as the Condors’ starter for the better part of the last two seasons, the Oilers opted not to qualify Rodrigue, making him a UFA on July 1st. The team has Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard in the NHL, then has Nathaniel Day, Samuel Jonsson, Connor Ungar, and Matt Tomkins, who will all be fighting for time in the AHL, with two likely heading to the ECHL.

Given the number of goalies in the system fighting for minutes and Rodrigue’s production this past season, it makes a good deal of sense as to why they did not retain him. It’s a little surprising that he did not find his way to another NHL club to fight for minutes and an NHL shot, but given his numbers and the number of goalies at the AHL level, the KHL is not a major surprise.

The big question now is, do the Oilers look to add another strong goalie to their system to add competition at the NHL level? Only Tomkins has any NHL experience, and it’s just six games at that. The other three are young and developing, with Jonsson and Day entering their first pro seasons in North America this year.

The door feels open for the Oilers to add one more goalie to their system, and whether that comes in the form of a signing, trade, or waiver claim once training camp starts is still to be seen.