Edmonton Oilers do not qualify Olivier Rodrigue, Cameron Wright, and Jacob Perreault

Olivier Rodrigue, selected 62nd overall by the Oilers in the 2018 NHL Draft, has been a fixture in the AHL with the Bakersfield Condors over the past three seasons. The 24-year-old netminder had established himself as the team’s starter, with Calvin Pickard playing in the NHL while Jack Campbell had long since been bought out. Rodrigue, who saw his first NHL action with two appearances in 2024-25, was seen as a potential third-string option for the Oilers until a tough campaign on the farm and pending arb rights may have been the tipping point. However, with the organization signing new goaltending prospects like Eemil Jonsson and Nathaniel Day, the crease in Bakersfield is becoming crowded. This likely played a big part in the decision to walk from Rodrigue, an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent.

Cameron Wright, an undrafted forward who joined the Oilers organization in 2023, also did not receive a qualifying offer from the team. The 26-year-old winger registered 13 goals and 11 assists in 60 games with the Condors in 2024-25, but was never able to earn a recall from the big club. In the AHL, Wright put together a solid campaign, contributing depth scoring and earning consideration for a one-year AHL contract extension. But with the Oilers’ prospect pool under reconstruction and prospects like Matthew Savoie expected to take on NHL minutes, the minor league team is primed for a reset. Wright’s physical style and workmanlike approach should draw interest from other AHL clubs or maybe even some overseas teams. If I’m him, I bounce over to Europe and get paid to see the world a little bit.

Jacob Perreault, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on December 6, 2024, in exchange for Noel Hoefenmayer, was here for a good time but not a long time. The 23-year-old right winger, originally drafted 27th overall by Anaheim in 2020, came to Edmonton after a strong start in the ECHL with the Trois-Rivières Lions and a brief though unremarkable stint with the Laval Rockets of the AHL. In Bakersfield, Perreault picked up a goal in his first week with the Condors, but could never quite find much traction from there. His reported skill set—a deceptive shot, strong puck skills, and defensive awareness—made him an intriguing scratch ticket for Edmonton, but it was not meant to be for Perreault. Based on what I could find, Perreault’s age and first-round pedigree make him a low-cost bet for another NHL organization likely in an AHL role.

For Rodrigue, Wright, and Perreault, not being qualified marks the end of their journey with our beloved Edmonton Oilers but not necessarily their professional careers. Each player brings something different that might appeal to other teams. Rodrigue has had some success at the AHL level, Wright can offer some sandpaper depth play, and Perreault’s offensive upside will probably have another team taking a flyer on the first round pick from five years ago, and I wish them well on the road to a new home, whether that be here in North America or somewhere overseas.