Former Oilers prospect Olivier Rodrigue reportedly signs in the KHL

Rodrigue was originally selected by Edmonton in the second round of the 2018 draft while playing junior hockey in the QMJHL. The Chicoutimi, Quebec native took on the lion’s share of Bakersfield’s starts over the past two seasons as Calvin Pickard graduated to a full-time role with the Oilers.

In 41 starts with the Condors last season, Rodrigue had an 18-16-6 record with a 3.12 GAA and an .897 SV%, posting one shutout. Amidst a flurry of injuries between the pipes, Rodrigue made his NHL debut earlier this year, coming in for the third period in relief of Calvin Pickard in the team’s 6-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken. He then earned his first start on April 7th, finishing with 18 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks before returning to Bakersfield.

Coming to the end of a one-year, $775k standard contract this summer, he was not extended a qualifying offer by the Oilers as the Condors’ crease started to become crowded with the additions of goaltending prospects Eemil Jonsson and Nathaniel Day. With his move to the KHL, he avoids the possibility of hitting arbitration with the Oilers.

In September 2024, he was ranked seventh in Oilersnation’s Prospect Countdown, the highest a goaltender landed on the list. At the time, Bruce Curlock wrote:

Rodrigue was always a very technically sound goalie with his father being his goalie coach for most of his life, including the last two years in Bakersfield. Rodrigue is also a very athletic goalie, however, he seemed to be prone to easy goals at bad times and also some inability to fight through traffic at his smaller size. He has notably improved in both areas.

Rodrigue’s move comes as a bit of a surprise, but it may be that the 25-year-old is just looking for more playing time at this point in his career. Still relatively young for a goaltender, a return to the NHL in the future is definitely not out of the question for Rodrigue.