Colorado Avalanche: Pickard Bridge Deal Right Call

Colorado Avalanche fan favorite and former RFA Calvin Pickard signed a two-year bridge deal on Tuesday that provides the team with goaltending stability, expansion draft flexibility, and a reasonable cap hit.

At a $1,000,000 cap hit per year, Calvin Pickard’s future as a member of the Colorado Avalanche was officially solidified Tuesday with a two-year bridge deal. After overtaking Reto Berra last as Semyon Varlamov’s backup and showing consistency during brief stretches as the starter, Pickard has earned his spot with the main club this season.

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The contract is beneficial to both the the Avalanche and Pickard, providing a reasonably priced backup for the team while giving Picks a chance to earn a starting job (and contract). While Varly is still an excellent NHL starter, issues with a recurring groin injury have provided Pickard a chance to demonstrate his consistent play at the NHL level, of which he has taken advantage. However, with only a handful of games played compared to Varly, Picks as a starter is in no way certain to work out.

With the expansion draft for

a place that is not Quebec City, I guess?

Las Vegas looming, the Avs will want to protect the best

person preserving the illusion that our defense is any shade of competent

netminder possible, as they can only protect one goalie in the expansion draft. With this new contract, the Colorado Avalanche have a few scenarios to consider this season.

Scenario #1: Varlamov remains the starter, Avs in playoff position at trade deadline

In this scenario, the team would likely hang onto both goalies, and only protect Varly by the time the expansion draft rolls around. This is assuming that Varly’s groin injury hasn’t resurfaced, and his play becomes more consistent than it has been the past two years. While it will be hard to risk losing a promising goalie like Pickard for nothing, the team will want both goalies entering the post season.

Scenario #2: Pickard wins starting job, Avs in playoff position at trade deadline

If Picks wins the starting job and the post-season looks likely, then things get a little stranger. First, it’s certain that Picks will be protected in the expansion draft; he’s a smaller cap hit, and in this scenario, the better goalie.

Varly’s groin may be acting up again, or his play just isn’t consistent enough compared to Pickard’s. The question is, do the Colorado Avalanche try to trade Varly here? On one hand, the return could be great if his stock is still relatively high. On the other hand, as teams have proven in these past playoffs, a good goalie tandem could be important down the line. Either way, Varly goes unprotected in the expansion draft.

Scenario #3: Varly keeps starting job, Avs out of playoff contention at trade deadline

On we go to the two more likely and more depressing scenarios. Varly is still the starter, but what is the reason? Is he actually playing at a consistently high level, while the team in front of him flounders? Or is management just trying to keep his stock high for a big return in a trade?

If it’s the first situation, I feel like either goalie could be traded, but Picks is more likely: he’s a young, promising goalie with little chance of actually being the starter here. If it’s the latter option, I feel like Joe Sakic would trade Varly for whatever draft picks he can get, and free up nearly $6,000,000 of cap room to

apparently spend on more depth players

sign a top-2 defenseman.

Scenario #4: Picks wins starting job, Avs out of playoff contention at trade deadline

With Varly’s groin likely acting up again and the younger, cheaper option of Pickard in net solidifying his role as a starter, Pickard will be protected in the draft, while the penny-pinching ownership will definitely enjoy seeing Varly’s contract dealt for draft picks and inexpensive prospects. The Avs would have little to gain by keeping Varly around, especially if they were to lose him to

the place where Ice shouldn’t exist

Vegas only a few months later.

Next: Colorado Avalanche: Growth is Still the Priority

To conclude, I’m relieved to see Picks officially signed. It’ll be interesting to see if and how a contest for the starting job could play out, and in any case, it nearly guarantees the Avalanche will have at least one awesome goalie going forward.

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