The Edmonton Oilers made a roster move Thursday morning, assigning Derek Ryan to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, and recalling their top goaltending prospect Olivier Rodrigue.
The move comes after Stuart Skinner was forced out of Wednesday’s game against the Dallas Stars when Mikko Rantanen kneed him in the head.
The #Oilers have recalled goaltender Olivier Rodrigue from the @Condors on an emergency basis & loaned forward Derek Ryan to Bakersfield. pic.twitter.com/F3Bh4F23J3
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 27, 2025
Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch indicated after the game that Skinner wouldn’t travel to Seattle for tonight’s game against the Kraken and that a recall was likely, hence the move Thursday.
Rodrigue, 24, has appeared in 40 games this year for the Condors, posting a .18-15-8 record, 899 save percentage and a 3.05 goals against average. The top goaltending prospect in the Oilers system, Rodrigue has yet to make his NHL debut.
His numbers this season have taken a dip from recent years. In 2023-24, he posted a 19-12-5 record, a .916 save percentage and a 2.73 goals against average in 37 games, while the 2022-23 campaign saw him post a 14-14-1 record, a 9.12 save percentage and a 2.77 goals against average.
Rodrigue got the start for the Condors Wednesday night in Bakersfield against the Colorado Eagles in 3-2 loss, while Calvin Pickard is expected to start for the Oilers tonight against Seattle. However, the door could be open for Rodrigue to make his NHL debut, depending on the health status of Skinner.
The Oilers face the Calgary Flames Saturday night in Edmonton, which Rodrigue could theoretically get the start in. Given the hit Skinner took was his second in the last week, following Gabriel Vilardi’s collision with him in last Thursday’s game against the Jets, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Oilers take it slow with his recovery.
Calgary’s trip to Edmonton will close out the Oilers’ March portion of the schedule, before they kick off April with a four-game road trip that will see them visit the Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Ducks.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s associate editor, senior columnist, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the DFO DFS Report. He can be followed on Twitter, currently known as X, at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.
