Oilers sign Olivier Rodrigue to a one-year, two-way contract extension

In a move signalling their commitment to nurturing homegrown talent, the Edmonton Oilers have secured goaltender Olivier Rodrigue with a one-year, two-way extension. Drafted 62nd overall in 2018, Rodrigue has been making steady strides in his development, especially this season, as he’s played the most games at the AHL level than ever before.

Olivier Rodrigue arrives at the starting blocks of an NHL career at an interesting time for the organization. In another year, we might have seen him with the Oilers by now, pushing Skinner for the honour of being Edmonton’s goalie of the future. But with Jack Campbell’s contract lingering and Calvin Pickard playing well in his recall, Rodrigue is battling for playing time with a guy the organization thought would be their starter for the next five years.

The 2023-24 season has been a coming out party of sorts for Rodrigue, as he boasts a commendable 17-10-4 record with a stellar .915 save percentage and a 2.72 goals-against average. Given that this is the most he’s played in the American Hockey League, these stats highlight his ability to consistently deliver strong performances and provide stability in the crease for the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.

Now in his fourth year with the Condors, Rodrigue has become a familiar face within the organization, earning the trust and respect of both teammates and coaching staff alike. His 85 games played in Bakersfield come mostly over the last two seasons — he carries a 41-34-8 record, 2.83 GAA, and a .908 save percentage over that stretch — as his workload has increased with each passing season at the minor league level.

With this extension, the Oilers are not only securing Rodrigue’s services for the 2024-25 campaign but also expressing their confidence in his potential to make an impact at the NHL level at some point in the future. The two-way nature of the deal allows Rodrigue the flexibility to continue refining his game in the AHL while remaining within arm’s reach of the NHL level. Could this be the carrot he needs to take the next step?

Rodrigue’s trajectory exemplifies the importance of patience and investment in player development—a philosophy that the Oilers organization hasn’t been overly spectacular at over the years. As they continue to build for the future, Rodrigue’s presence in the pipeline represents a promising asset for the team’s goaltending depth. If he can build upon what has been his best season to date, perhaps we see Rodrigue getting a cup of coffee with the Oilers as early as next next.

For Rodrigue himself, this extension is a validation of his hard work and the way he’s progressed year over year. With his sights set on the NHL, Rodrigue will need to keep playing well at the AHL level and further polishing his skillset. Seeing as there is uncertainty between the pipes in Edmonton, a path has been laid for Rodrigue to crack the NHL roster provided he can continue making enough noise to ensure the big team can’t ignore him any further.

Rodrigue had never been considered the starter in Bakersfield before this season, posting a career high 29 games in 2022-23. Until this past December, Rodrigue was often an afterthought for playing time, as veterans Calvin Pickard and Jack Campbell saw more starts early in the Condors season.

As Bakersfield’s season winds down, many Oilers fans will be watching Rodrigue as he looks to build upon his impressive performances and further solidify his place within Edmonton’s long-term plans. Now the to-do for him will be to keep getting better if he plans to continue his journey towards NHL stardom with the Edmonton Oilers.

Though no monetary details were announced at the time of posting, Rodrigue’s 2023-24 salary came in at $775,000 at the NHL level and $80,000 at the AHL level.

RODRIGUE’S PRO CAREER SO FAR