Major development concerning Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft

In case you missed it earlier today, the Edmonton Oilers officially placed goaltender Jack Campbell on waivers.

As stated by the Oilers' official social media account, the purpose of placing the veteran goalie on waivers is to assign him to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. Assuming Campbell clears waivers and accepts his assignment, he'll suit up in the AHL for the first time since 2018.

Ouch.

For what it's worth, Campbell still has four seasons left on a deal that pays him $5 million annually. Because of that, I honestly cannot see anyone taking a chance on him. The Oilers are now more likely stuck with a $20 million White Elephant on their AHL roster.

Double ouch.

So... what's the plan in Edmonton now?

TSN insider Ryan Rishaug reports that the plan now will be to recall AHL goaltender Calvin Pickard of the Bakersfield Condors once Campbell clears waivers. More importantly though, Rishaug reports that there's no plan to make any additional moves in goal. This means there's no trade coming, no knight in shining armor coming to save the day.

For what it's worth, Pickard has been outstanding so far this season for the Condors. The 31 year old journeyman goalie has a 2.03 goals against average and a .939 save percentage in four games to start the season. He last played in the NHL during the 2021-22 season with the Detroit Red Wings.

In total, Pickard has played 116 NHL games split between the Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Colorado Avalanche.

While Pickard may not be the goalie that Oilers fans are hoping for, he's at least a solid depth option to tide them over until Holland can wrap his head around a more permanent solution.

One potential solution for the Oilers could be Edmonton native Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers. David Pagnotta and Anthony Di Marco of The Fourth Period report that a potential Campbell for Hart trade could go down, assuming the Oilers are willing to pay a premium in order to dump Campbell's contract.

More from Di Marco:

Honestly, I think this is the deal that the Oilers should have been looking at for awhile now. GM Ken Holland should have been in pursuit of Hart before even signing Campbell, but I digress. At this point I think there's absolutely no way that Holland and the Oilers don't get fleeced in a potential Hart trade, but... well... it's just gotta happen. You simply cannot allow this roster to flounder with bad goaltending.

I'm of the belief that Holland needs to pay whatever the cost to fix his team's most glaring weakness and it needs to happen NOW.

Goaltending issues aside though, this team isn't simply one player away from becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. It's unfair to put all of this team's issues on Campbell and Stuart Skinner. There are serious issues with the way in which the Oilers defend and head coach Jay Woodcroft has to bear some responsibility in that.

So... is Woodcroft out? Is he on a short leash? What's the plan?

The latest from TSN insider Pierre LeBrun:

"A potential coaching change... I don't think the Oilers are there. I don't think they see a team that's given up on their head coach. But if there are external options, I think it's worth noting that Gerard Gallant and Ken Holland played together in the AHL and have remained friends throughout the years. 

- Pierre LeBrun

LeBrun's TSN colleague Darren Dreger essentially echoed LeBrun's sentiment saying:

"I dont' think Ken Holland wants to make that coaching change just yet. Maybe he promotes Glen Gulutzan though if things continue to stay sideways."

- Darren Dreger

Thoughts, Oilers fans? 

I've got to agree that I don't think it's time for Woodcroft to go just yet. The Oilers are still competing each and every night, they just can't catch a break due to truly terrible goaltending. Once you see them begin to roll over and ignore their coach, then it's time to make a move.

Read below for our earlier report on the Oilers' situation in goal, published earlier today.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Edmonton Oilers have completely unravelled. 

Late in another meltdown loss to the Vancouver Canucks last night, the Oilers' completely lost their composure, both on the ice and on the bench.

It really all started when superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl went ballistic and went after Canucks star players JT Miller and Quinn Hughes.

Check it out:

Things got even worse after head coach Jay Woodcroft earned himself a game misconduct for unsportsmanlike conduct. Woodcroft simply walked off the bench and left his team behind.

Check it out:

The Oilers would go on to lose 6-2 and fall to 0-3 against the Canucks so far this season. 

After the game Woodcroft had about a dozen excuses for his team's play and wouldn't really fess up to what he said that earned him a game misconduct. Just... this guy is cooked, you can hear it in his voice.

Check it out:

Excuse after excuse after excuse. Enough is enough. If you're gonna get heated and tossed from the game, at least own up to it. And call a spade a spade, your team's goaltending is awful. McDavid himself even commented on the team's awful goaltending and seems like he's had enough.

Check it out:

"No one's in here is saying, 'We've got to turn more pucks over, or give up more two-on-ones and three-on-twos.' But for whatever reason, they're going in. They're going in off us, they're going in every which way."

- Connors McDavid

Translation: "Make a f***ing save!"

In all seriousness, McDavid is not the type to throw blame around but it's clear that he's frustrated with his team's goaltending. Last night's game played out like so many have for the Oilers to start this season. They start off great, give up a bad goal early, get behind the 8 ball a bit and then never recover. Wash, rinse, repeat.

Interestingly enough, the Oilers' AHL netminders Calvin Pickard and Olivier Rodrigue have both been outstanding to start the year. Sportsnet insider Jeff Marek wondered today if Ken Holland might recall one or even both goaltenders in an effort to shake things up in the crease.

From Marek's Sportsnet hit earlier today:

"Calvin Pickard's got a .939 save percentage, Olivier Rodrigue's got a .968 save percentage and they're playing in Bakersfield right now. Do you call them up? Do you call one of them up right now? It's not working with Stuart Skinner. It's not working with Jack Campbell.

- Jeff Marek

Neither Stuart Skinner nor Jack Campbell are waiver exempt, so the Oilers would likely have to carry three or more goaltenders on their roster if they want to call up either Pickard or Rodrigue. Thoughts, Oilers fans?