Oilers' Pickard Clears Waivers, Joins AHL Affiliate

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard cleared waivers on Monday, allowing the team to retain the 33-year-old veteran as depth in their system after placing him on the wire Sunday. The move ends speculation about Pickard joining another NHL club and paves the way for his assignment to the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton's top affiliate.

Pickard, a second-round pick by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2010 NHL Draft, has spent the past four seasons with the Oilers organization. This season, he posted a 5-6-2 record with a .871 save percentage and 3.68 goals-against average in 16 appearances. He has not played since January 8, when he made 13 saves in a win over the Winnipeg Jets. His demotion stems from strong performances by Connor Ingram, who overtook him as backup, and the return of starter Tristan Jarry from injured reserve on January 13. The Oilers, who acquired Jarry in December and Ingram in October, decided against carrying three goaltenders on the NHL roster.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, no team claimed Pickard, whose $1 million cap hit made him an affordable option for contenders seeking goaltending help. The clearance preserves...