Colorado Avalanche: Top 5 Training Camp Battles

Colorado Avalanche Battle #2

Reto Berra vs. Calvin Pickard

Dec 27, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard (31) during the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Semyon Varlamov has emerged as one of the best goalies in the league, carrying the Colorado Avalanche to a division title in 2014, and preventing them from doing even worse than they did in 2015. But what’s up behind that?

Reto Berra was the exact opposite of Varlamov a lot of the time. He did have his shiny moments, but consistency was a big issue for him.

When Varlamov got injured, Calvin Pickard got more NHL starts than Berra, while doing an outstanding job in the majority of games. That even led to Berra being sent down to Lake Erie, once Varlamov had recovered from his injury.

In the AHL, however, Pickard didn’t post numbers nearly as good as those in the NHL. So how good is he really? Add to that the fact that Berra is on a one-way contract, which will make it a harder decision to send him down to the AHL.

Note: At the time of writing, RFA Calvin Pickard is still unsigned. 

Next: Colorado Avalanche Battle #1