As I iterated when I wrote about Eemil Vinni in the prospect countdown, “goalies are voodoo.” If you don’t want to look any further, you can use Olivier Rodrigue as an example. Rodrigue was a relatively high pick for a goalie, and was also panned by draft analysts as too high. Rodrigue didn’t quell criticism early in his professional career, as he had mediocre results at the ECHL and AHL levels. However, that began to change in the 2022-23 season.

Rodrigue had a penchant for allowing one easy goal per game, which was often at a poor time. The 2022-23 season saw that start to change and he followed it up with a strong 2023-24 season. Rodrigue had a 19-12-5 record while recording a .916 save percentage and a 2.73 goals against average. His save percentage was good for tenth in the AHL last season.

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. Watch this sequence of shots against the Calgary Wranglers this past season in a game. Notice his composed movement and his confidence in tracking the puck and deflecting the puck into less threatening areas.

Here is another example from the same game, where he fought through a massive screen to make the initial save and control the rebound.

It’s almost a certainty I would have ranked Rodrigue a little higher, except for one issue: his size remains a concern. The goal that he is most prone to now is the top-shelf goal as he goes into the RVH position. I think NHL players will feed on that weakness for certain.

It’s a really important season coming up for Rodrigue and I’m relatively certain he will see NHL games this year, as the clear-cut #3 goalie in the organization. He is also on a one-year contract and there will be injuries or illness for certain. Rodrigue has worked his way into a position to get these games that come available. What he does with them will determine just where this prospect ultimately goes and whether it is with the Oilers.