Prospect Profile: Calvin Pickard

Top ranked goaltending prospect Calvin Pickard had an outstanding 23-16-5 record during his rookie season in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2008-09.

But after a rocky 2009-10 season for a young Thunderbirds squad in which Pickard went just 16-34-12, he still remains a top-ranked prospect.

As a matter of fact, Pickard is a good bet to be a first-round selection, along with fellow-netminder Jack Campbell.

Pickard’s goal-against average remained virtually identical in both seasons (2008-09:  3.05, 2009-10:  3.09), but his save percentage was actually considerably better this past year (2008-09:  .896, 2009-10:  .914).

In a Vancouver Sun article, Pickard made a very good point regarding playing for a young, sometimes overmatched team:

“I had the opportunity to be the difference every night, so I looked at it as a great opportunity.  I just tried to limit my mistakes and look up at the scoreboard at the end of the game and hope that we won.  Unfortunately it didn’t happen a lot.  It was definitely good for the development of my game, but moving forward I want to be a winner, so I hope we can be better this season.”

What the scouts say (Courtesy of the Vancouver Sun):

Standing at 6′ tall and 200 pounds, some of Pickard’s  critics say he isn’t big enough to be an impact goaltender at the NHL level.

According to former NHL goaltender and current head goaltending scout of NHL Central Scouting Al Jensen, Pickard has the goods.

“I’ve seen goalies who are six-foot-four or six-foot-five and they look small in the net.  I’ve seen goalies who are five-foot-ten or five-foot-eleven and they look big in the net.

It’s about being able to cover the holes.  (Pickard is) very compact and his angles are excellent, so when the shooters come in, there’s not much room.  His net coverage is exceptional.”

David Strehle
NHLHS Flyers Correspondent / NHL Writer
dstrehle@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @PhilaDAVEia