Oilers beat Wild 4-3 as Calvin Pickard returns to Edmonton

Oilers beat Wild 4-3 as Pickard returns

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Minnesota Wild 4-3 at Rogers Place, and the night doubled as a homecoming for former Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard. Pickard left Edmonton this summer when the team did not bring him back in free agency, and the game marked his first time back in the building since he signed with the Wild.

The Oilers planned a video tribute on the scoreboard early in the game to thank Pickard for his three seasons in net. He spent Tuesday morning fielding questions from Edmonton reporters and admitted it felt strange walking past the Oilers locker room as a visitor instead of a player.

Back-to-back trips to the final

Pickard's three years in Edmonton included back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025, both of which fell short. He called the playoff runs the most fun he has had in his career, pointing to lasting friendships with Oilers teammates and staff.

When the Oilers did not bring him back, Pickard said the move to Minnesota came together fast once his agent called. "It was a no-brainer," he said, and added that it was a good chance to keep playing in the NHL for a while longer.

Pickard on facing Stuart Skinner in his own hometown

Pickard also looked back on former Oilers teammate Stuart Skinner, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last season and now plays for the Winnipeg Jets. Pickard has played one game as a member of the Wild so far, and it came against Skinner, in Winnipeg, which happens to be Pickard's hometown.

"It was weird. Here's Stu, playing in my hometown," Pickard said, adding that the city was behind his old teammate. He said the two shared a laugh about the matchup and that he was happy for Skinner.

A journeyman path to Minnesota

Pickard was taken 49th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. He has since played for seven NHL teams, Colorado, Toronto, Philadelphia, Arizona, Detroit, Edmonton and now Minnesota, in a career that has reached 192 NHL games across 12 professional stops.

The Wild signed Pickard, 34, to a one-year, one-way $1 million deal in July, making him the backup to Jesper Wallstedt. He has been dressing for Minnesota because of an injury to Filip Gustavsson, which is how he ended up back at Rogers Place so soon after leaving.

Facts per Yahoo Sports, Edmonton Journal, ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.