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Calvin Pickard ( ; 2019-20-Grand-Rapids-Griffins-Media-Guide.pdf born April 15, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Pickard was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in the second round (49th overall) of the 2010 NHL entry draft. He played his junior hockey with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He was the first selection by the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2017 NHL expansion draft.
Pickard began the 2014–15 season with the Monsters but was recalled to the Avalanche on October 16, 2014 after Semyon Varlamov was placed on injured reserve. He made his NHL debut the same day against the Ottawa Senators, replacing Reto Berra, who was injured in a collision; Pickard allowed four goals on 27 shots in a 5–3 loss. Pickard was sent back to the Monsters on October 25 but was recalled on November 18 after Varlamov suffered a groin injury. Pickard earned his first win on November 22 after coming in to relieve an ineffective Berra, and stopped all 17 shots he faced in an eventual 4-3 overtime win. After more poor play from Berra, Pickard became the starting goaltender and continued in impressive form until Varlamov returned to the team, after which Pickard became the team's primary backup goaltender. Pickard was returned to Lake Erie on December 28, to resume a starting goaltender role. After beginning the 2015–16 season with Colorado's new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage, he was recalled early on in the season when Varlamov suffered another groin injury. He returned to the club in late December when Berra injured his ankle, and recorded his first NHL shutout on January 16, 2016 against the New Jersey Devils.
A restricted free agent, Pickard signed his first one-way deal with the Avalanche, agreeing to a two-year, $2 million contract on July 5, 2016. In his first full season in the NHL in 2016–17, Pickard was slated as the backup goaltender, however with an early season-ending injury suffered to Varlamov, Pickard was thrust into the starting role for the Avalanche. He established a career-high in making 50 appearances, leading the last-place Avalanche in save percentage, goals against average and wins.
During the 2018–19 pre-season, Sparks was chosen to be the Maple Leafs' backup, forcing Pickard to be put on waivers on October 1, 2018. He was claimed the following day by the Philadelphia Flyers.
On November 23, 2018, Pickard had the fourth shutout of his career and his first with the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4–0 victory over the New York Rangers in the Flyers' traditional Black Friday matinee. The following day, he surrendered four goals on six shots against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was pulled from the net in favour of Anthony Stolarz about twelve minutes into the contest. He did not start another game with the Flyers. With a .863 save percentage and a poor 4.01 goals against average, Pickard was once again placed on waivers on November 28. The following day, the Arizona Coyotes claimed Pickard off waivers. Remaining with the Coyotes as the club's third choice goaltender, Pickard made six appearances for the club, unable to win a game.
After a strong pre-season showing, Pickard was assigned to Detroit's affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, with whom he played the majority of the campaign. He received the AHL Player of the Week honor for the week of January 5. He was recalled to the Red Wings on three separate occasions after goaltenders Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier went down with minor injuries. Pickard appeared in three games for the Red Wings, going winless and allowing 15 goals with a 5.46 GAA. Pickard was returned to Grand Rapids to assist in their playoff push on January 23, 2020. Less than two months later, the season was indefinitely suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On December 1, 2020, prior to the 2020–21 NHL season, Detroit loaned Pickard to the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League for conditioning purposes following the eight-month break. He had a 3–3 record before being recalled to Detroit on January 3, 2021. Pickard was waived following training camp for the purpose of assignment to their taxi squad. Pickard had a quiet season, only manning Detroit's crease six times, going 2–1–1. However, he was one of the bright spots of the Red Wings' year as he earned back-to-back victories against the Columbus Blue Jackets in March.
On July 28, 2021, the Red Wings signed Pickard to a one-year contract extension.
The Oilers qualified for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, defeating the Los Angeles Kings in the first round. However, issues with Skinner's performance in net became increasingly prominent through the first three games of the team's second round series against the Vancouver Canucks, with a save percentage "among the worst in NHL history." After Skinner allowed four goals on 19 shots in the first two periods of game 3, Pickard made his NHL playoff debut in relief. He faced only three shots in the third period, stopping all of them, after which coach Kris Knoblauch opted to start Pickard in the critical game 4, with the Oilers seeking to avoid a 3–1 series deficit against the Canucks. Pickard made 20 saves in a 3–2 Oilers victory, earning praise for his performance. The Oilers later won the series 4–3 against the Canucks.
The Oilers entered the postseason once again the following year, qualifying for the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs. The team experienced a difficult first two games in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, with Pickard playing in relief of Skinner midway through the third period in game 2. Concerns were raised about Skinner's form, and coach Knoblauch opted to start Pickard in game 3 as a result, where he made 24 saves in a 7–4 victory, avoiding a 3–0 series deficit. Pickard played the rest of the series and would go undefeated, posting a 4–0 record as the Oilers advanced to the second round. He would proceed to play the first two games of the second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights, winning both games. Skinner eventually returned to the net in game 3, as Pickard would be sidelined with a lower-body injury. Skinner's performance recovered throughout the series, and thanks to their combined efforts in net, the Oilers defeated the Golden Knights in five games. Pickard returned to the net in game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, making his Stanley Cup Final debut. He returned in game 4 at the start of the second period after Skinner allowed three goals in the first. Pickard faced 22 shots en route to a 5–4 comeback victory for the Oilers.
Pickard married his wife, Courtney in Winnipeg, on June 17, 2019. They have two daughters, Blakely and Ryla.
International play
Following a second successful season as a backup with the Avalanche, Pickard was selected for his first international tournament for Canada at the 2016 World Championships in Russia. He played two round-robin games for Canada, winning both times, en route to a gold medal.
Personal life
Pickard was born in Moncton, New Brunswick to parents, Cathy and Dan. They later moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba when he was eight. His older brother, Chet Pickard, a first-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2008, was also a professional goaltender and played with Germany Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) clubs, the Iserlohn Roosters, Adler Mannheim and Grizzlys Wolfsburg. He also has a sister, Kelly.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
2008–09 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL .896 .915 2009–10 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL .914 — 2010–11 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL .916 — 2011–12 Seattle Thunderbirds WHL .906 — 2011–12 Lake Erie Monsters AHL .892 — 2012–13 Lake Erie Monsters AHL .918 — 2013–14 Lake Erie Monsters AHL .906 — 2014–15 Lake Erie Monsters AHL .917 — 2014–15 Colorado Avalanche NHL .932 — 2015–16 San Antonio Rampage AHL .917 — 2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL .922 — 2016–17 Colorado Avalanche NHL .904 — 2017–18 Toronto Marlies AHL .918 .956 2017–18 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL .857 — 2018–19 Philadelphia Flyers NHL .863 — 2018–19 Arizona Coyotes NHL .892 — 2018–19 Tucson Roadrunners AHL .889 — 2019–20 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL .903 — 2019–20 Detroit Red Wings NHL .797 — 2020–21 Vienna Capitals ICEHL .919 — 2020–21 Detroit Red Wings NHL .874 — 2020–21 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL .882 — 2021–22 Grand Rapids Griffins AHL .918 — 2021–22 Detroit Red Wings NHL .875 — 2022–23 Bakersfield Condors AHL .912 .903 2023–24 Bakersfield Condors AHL .939 — 2023–24 Edmonton Oilers NHL .909 .915 2024–25 Edmonton Oilers NHL .900 .886
International
2016 Canada WC 2 2 0 0 120 1 1 0.50 .971 2017 Canada WC 7 5 2 0 444 11 1 1.49 .938
Awards and honors
West First All-Star Team 2010 West Second All-Star Team 2011 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award 2018 Calder Cup 2018 Player of the Week (5-12 January 2020) 2020
External links
Categories: 1992 Births, Living People, 21st-century Canadian Sportsmen, Arizona Coyotes Players, Bakersfield Condors Players, Canadian Expatriate Ice Hockey Players In The United States, Canadian Ice Hockey Goaltenders, Colorado Avalanche Draft Picks, Colorado Avalanche Players, Detroit Red Wings Players, Edmonton Oilers Players, Grand Rapids Griffins Players, Ice Hockey People From Moncton, Ice Hockey People From Winnipeg, Lake Erie Monsters Players, Philadelphia Flyers Players, San Antonio Rampage Players, Seattle Thunderbirds Players, Toronto Maple Leafs Players, Toronto Marlies Players, Tucson Roadrunners Players, Vienna Capitals Players
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