Prospect Profile: Calvin Pickard
by Angélique C. Murray on Dec 1, 2010 6:01 AM MST
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This is the first in what I hope to be a fun series of look ins at prospects within the Colorado Avalanche system. Up first, 2010 second round pick Calvin Pickard.
Bio:
Catches: Left
Height: 6’0"
Weight: 197 lbs
Hometown: Winnepeg, MB
Current Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Drafted: 49th overall in 2010
Heading into the 2010 draft, Pickard was ranked as the top North American goaltender according to Central Scouting Services. Jack Campbell and Mark Visentin were the two goaltenders selected before the Winnepeg native. Lacking a serious goaltending prospect, the Avalanche were quite content to scoop up the netminder (they would later take goaltender Sami Aittokallio in the fifth round) with their second round selection. His older brother, Chet, was a first round pick of the Nashville Predators back in 2008.
Avalanche fans caught their fist glimpse of Pickard at rookie and training camp this past September. While he looked shaky and tentative at times, it was not difficult to recognize his talent and potential. He is positionally sound and allows few "leaky goals." The key to his performance is his strong rebound control. He manages to fill out the net well despite not being an enormous goaltender.
After participating in his first professional camp, Pickard was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds. While the Portland Winterhawks, as expected, are running away with the US Division, Seattle has a respectable record of 11-6-3-4 (after 24 games). Pickard has started all but two games for the Thunderbirds this season. Entering Tuesday’s game against the Medicine Hat Tigers, Pickard has a goals against average of 2.66 and save percentage of 0.930. His GAA is 8th best in the WHL and his save percentage is currently ranked third.
While Pickard is aiming to return Seattle to the WHL postseason, he also has another goal in mind...that’s to reclaim gold for Canada in the up coming World Junior Championships (WJC). Pickard was one of four goaltenders (and 39 players) invited to attend Canada's National Junior Team selection camp; which takes place in the second week of December. From this group of players, Hockey Canada will piece together a roster that will compete in the 2011 WJC in Buffalo, NY.
Avs fans will get a good look of Pickard on the international stage in a few weeks, but don’t expect him to be suiting up for the Avalanche in the near future. Pickard will likely play in the WHL through the 2011-12 season before turning pro and spending some time in the American Hockey League.
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good timing
after last nights goaltending… its nice to know that the Avs may have something special in the pipeline. I believe his numbers recently “dropped” due to his recent game as he was once something like top 3 across the board.
2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing
Budaj is a solid backup goaltender. He played poorly last night and we still managed a point. I’m fine with that. We’re asking a lot of him this season and he has more than met my expectations. I still have plenty of faith in Boods and I’m very happy he is still with this team.
Fuck you Mr. Potatohead
- goalie in 5 years, anyone?
By the way, I’m still shocked that not a single team in the league drafted Benjamin Conz. He plays in one of Europe’s best leagues every week (.915 in 28 games so far this season), impressed the whole hockey world at the 2010 WJC but is still undrafted? Sign him for Lake Erie next season, I’m pretty sure he’s gonna become at least a very solid backup in the NHL sooner or later.
"Who?" -Joe Sacco’s post-game answer to how Todd Bertuzzi looks as a player these days.
That was supposed to say “#1 goalie”.
"Who?" -Joe Sacco’s post-game answer to how Todd Bertuzzi looks as a player these days.
I guess you haven't noticed the Avs large collection of goalie prospects?
Cann, Patterson, Pickard, Millan and possibly Aitto & Maxwell are in the system. All of them will be signed or need to be signed by the end of next season. Some will walk or be traded but none are ready to back-up Anderson soon so that leaves 2-3 spots on the 50 man “roster” for 4-6 goalie prospects (not including any they go after at the next draft)
2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing
We are fortunate to have as many good writers on this blog as the Avs have PMD’s in the system. Thanks for this new series Angelique!
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
I was about to make a similar comment. I’m coming up on my first anniversary as an MHH’er and the site has definitely become more lively, and frankly better. We’re seeing the kind of background pieces (like this and the “Checking Out” series from Beachie) that used to appear in newspaper sports sections. Now they barely have the budget for the box score. Nicely done. Thanks.
Detroit is peopled entirely by slovenly ill-informed troglodytes, excepting of course the few Avalanche fans who are victims of unfortunate circumstance.
by Busted Twigg on Dec 1, 2010 11:13 AM MST up reply actions
If Pickard wins the starting job for Canada U20s it will define him. A huge amount of pressure for a young goalie. The Avs haven’t had a goaltending prospect in that kind of situation since Sauer was in the final four.
It cannot be shown that luck actually exists, hence luck is nothing more than a word used by one in a self delusional assumption of understanding events of which one is informed or which one witnesses. As such, it is a word which superstitious people use to simultaneously presume to have insight into events and, paradoxically, to cease efforts to understand the causes and effects of those same events.
I remember the pumping up of a certain young man named Phillipe Sauve…yikes
I am Torgo...I take care of the place while the master is away."
Do you remember the great Marc Denis? Poor bastard got shipped to Columbus in the expansion draft and never got to play on a real team.
Jonas Holøs- Putting the Ø in defense since 2010!
by niwotsblessing on Dec 1, 2010 10:03 AM MST up reply actions
I thinks its really important to end up as the starter for the world juniors this year. yes he can still be a very good #1 NHL goalie if he doesnt make the team, or makes the team and serves as a back up, but I truly believe there is a certain swagger goalies can get from winning gold as the #1 goalie on that team. I believe that swagger is called “championship player”. Great for the confidence after you get shelled for 6 goals in 2 periods
It's called sex panther, by Odeon. It's got bits of real panther in it, so you know its good.
by RyanO'Reilly FanClub on Dec 1, 2010 10:56 AM MST up reply actions
We are to never speak his name!
The Doctor Jones fanclub: Active for more games than Jones himself.
"Just Do Something" - Nike’s new logo for Bills apparel.
Paul McCartney Can't Play Piano
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Glory, Glory, Colorado. The 'Pids go Marching on!
by UZ on Dec 1, 2010 11:17 AM MST up reply actions
and then there’s Luke Walker too.
apparently the Avs are run by geeks. and i’m ok with that.
maybe an internet pipe froze and burst
mwuahaha
Another fun fact
Picard has played a shit ton of games for Seattle in his young career. The kid is relied on so heavily that he plays just about every game (last year too), meaning he’s getting lots of experience quickly. Plus, his team allows a lot of shots (their a bit better this season though) and so Picard isn’t just showing up, he’s working his ass off every night.
so for Hishon's MHH profile...
can you use the funny jersey “vampire” pick from the draft?
2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing
lol I’ll keep that in mind ;-)
Colorado Avalanche Prospects: For daily news on the future of the Colorado Avalanche!
by Angélique C. Murray on Dec 1, 2010 6:21 PM MST up reply actions
That’s the pic that they had to set the camera on the floor so they could film the top half of him right?
Mile High Hockey: A Blog To Go And Get Lucky...
Calvin Pickard plays in, arguably, the best league that’s not professional in the world and posts a .930 save %. I’d say things look good for Avs goaltending in the future. Real nice prospect!
ToledoAvsFan
I love the WHL. I grew up near the Spokane area so I got to see the Chiefs play pretty frequently. The Chiefs were my first ever hockey experience and I have been hooked ever since. I’m excited about Aitto and Pickard being our future net minders. I got to see Pickard a few times before I moved to Japan and wow…he’s got some talent. I was very happy to see the Avs pick him up.
Fuck you Mr. Potatohead
The amazing thing...
if he is the Avalanche backup goalie for the start of the 2013-2014 season he will still only be 21 at the start of the season.
Lord Howard, Thy Holy Osgood, and Todd Bertuzzi --The Trinity of douche bags.
Take THAT Jimmy Howard! (effing rookie my ass. NHL goaltender @ 21? That’s a rookie.)
Bitch, give me your lunch money.
by Cheryl Bradley on Dec 1, 2010 3:35 PM MST up reply actions
Thanks for the interesting read Jori. Just curious, and I guess I’d like to see this in each of these features, what do you project his NHL future, or ceiling, to be? I know it is harder with goaltenders than any other position though, isn’t it?
Your 2010-2011 Colorado Avalanche: What's Luck Got to do with it?
Yeah, Justin Goldman is probably the one to ask in regards to goalie projections. I have a decent read on forwards and defensemen, but I haven’t studied goalies close enough to do an adequate projection. Talent wise, I think this kid has to goods to make it to the NHL, but at just 18, I couldn’t begin to predict how well his game will translate. It will greatly depend on how he adjusts to the speed of the NHL versus that of the WHL.
Colorado Avalanche Prospects: For daily news on the future of the Colorado Avalanche!
by Angélique C. Murray on Dec 1, 2010 6:20 PM MST up reply actions
Well his brother sure hasn't "translated" well to the professional game
so who knows. At least the Avs are damn good with younger brothers (Stastny, Stewart, Olver, Smyth, Etc)
2010-11 Colorado Avalanche: The Asskickers of the Amazing
Here’s a short clip of some highlights of the guy this past season with Seattle. Some beauties in there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0PZWqTcY8
Fuck you Mr. Potatohead
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