Colorado Avalanche’s Solid Goalie, Calvin Pickard

Colorado Avalanche goalie Calvin Pickard is a technically sound player who could just challenge for the top net minder spot.

The Colorado Avalanche made a solid but modest signing this summer, signing goalie Calvin Pickard for two years at an annual average value of $1 million. With Reto Berra traded away, that makes Pickard the definitive backup goalie. Many people, myself included, think Pickard could challenge for the top spot, or at least force the Colorado Avalanche’s as-yet-unnamed head coach to split goalie time with Semyon Varlamov.

(No telling how savvy the new coach is going to be when it comes to goalies, but I think we can all agree he won’t have anywhere near Patrick Roy’s expertise.)

In any case, the Pickard signing is old news. Lets find out more about the kid coach Roy often remarked plays with “swagger.” (And, again, who would know better about that?)

Calvin Pickard’s Background

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Calvin Pickard was raised in Winnipeg, though we won’t hold that against him (rival Jets notwithstanding) since he was born in Moncton, New Brunswick. (Growing up he loved the New Jersey Devils. We won’t hold that against him either.)

Pickard, as with most kids, started out as a skater. It wasn’t until his family moved to Winnipeg when he was seven that he started playing goalie. By the age of nine he’d transitioned fully.

Calvin Pickard began his major junior career when he was 16, moving all the way to Seattle to play for the Thunderbirds. He posted a .914 save percentage his second season and was named to the Western Hockey League First All Star team.

That year he was the top-ranked North American goalie in the draft, but he was the third picked. In other words, the Colorado Avalanche got a steal when they selected him 49th overall in 2010.

Calvin Pickard’s Goalie Style

Calvin Pickard’s style has been compared to retired Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas’ — butterfly hybrid. He’s a technically sound goalie who works extra hard and rarely cheats.

Pickard has good size for a goalie, being 6-foot-1, 202 pounds. That means he takes up a fair amount of space, but he’s not ungainly. He’s not going to wow you with his moves, but he’s going to wow you with his smart play.

Pickard’s older brother, Chet, is also a goalie. Chet was drafted in the first round by the Nashville Predators in 2008. He never transitioned into the NHL, though, and he currently plays in Europe. However, the two brothers had a healthy rivalry growing up. As Pickard said on Cleveland.com, Chet has advised him well.

As mentioned above, Calvin has swagger. Here’s my favorite interview of his, given after he’d earned first-star honors:

Look at that sparkle in his eyes. Props, too, because the win was against his hometown Winnipeg Jets.

Check out his celly after the shootout save:

Pickard believes the key to good goal tending is to have a “thick skin and short-term memory.” He adds:

"“You’ve got to shake things off quickly. You can’t dwell on stuff. You’ve got to be mentally tough.”"

That thick skin and mental toughness are things from which the Colorado Avalanche could really benefit.

Fun fact: Calvin Pickard’s favorite pump-up song is “Beautiful People” by Marilyn Manson. Respect.

Next: Patrick Roy Exit Interview

Calvin Pickard got his chance with the Colorado Avalanche when Semyon Varlamov’s groin inevitably acted up and Reto Berra went down with a strange injury three minutes into a game. Varly and his groin — Picks is sure to get another shot at the top spot. With some seasoning garnered from 36 games and that (soon to be) legendary swagger, he might just force some tough decisions in goal.