Calvin Pickard Bio
Calvin Pickard is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on April 15, 1992, in Moncton, New Brunswick, he was selected in the second round, 49th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 206 pounds, Pickard catches with his left hand and has built a career as a reliable backup and spot starter across multiple organizations.
Over more than a decade in professional hockey, Pickard has suited up for seven NHL franchises as well as several American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates and the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League. He captured a Calder Cup championship with the Toronto Marlies in 2018 and represented Canada at the international level, winning gold at the 2016 World Championships.
Early Life and Background
Calvin Pickard was born on April 15, 1992, in Moncton, New Brunswick, to parents Cathy and Dan. When he was seven years old, the family relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he was raised and where his passion for goaltending first took shape. Growing up in a hockey-driven household, Pickard was introduced to the game at a young age and spent his formative years developing his skills on local rinks.
Pickard played for the Winnipeg Wild in the Manitoba U-18 ‘AAA’ Hockey League, posting a 1.91 goals-against average in 2007–08. As a bantam the year before, he won a Manitoba Championship and earned the Top Goaltender award at the Western Canadian Championships. Those early accomplishments established him as one of the top young netminders in the region and set the stage for his major junior career.
Path to Hockey
Pickard began his major junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in 2008–09, recording 23 wins in 47 games with a .896 save percentage. He appeared in the 2009 WHL Playoffs, where Seattle fell in five games to the Spokane Chiefs, and in 2009–10 he was selected to represent the WHL at the 2009 Subway Super Series and played for Team Cherry at the 2010 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
Despite a dip in wins during his second WHL season, Pickard was named to the 2010 WHL West First All-Star Team and was rated the top North American goaltender by NHL Central Scouting. Colorado selected him 49th overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, making him the third goaltender taken that year. He went on to play four full seasons with Seattle, setting a WHL career saves record along the way, and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avalanche on March 25, 2011.
Calvin Pickard Career
Early Career (2012–2014)
After being reassigned to Seattle for the 2011–12 WHL season, Pickard joined the Lake Erie Monsters, Colorado’s AHL affiliate, at the end of that campaign. He made his professional debut on March 31, 2012, stepping in for Cédrick Desjardins during a 4–0 loss to the Texas Stars. The 2012–13 AHL season marked his first full professional year, and he appeared in 47 games for Lake Erie, picking up 20 wins.
Pickard continued to develop with the Monsters through 2013–14, refining his technique and earning additional responsibility within Colorado’s system. His steady progression in the minors positioned him as a candidate for an NHL recall whenever the Avalanche needed goaltending depth.
Colorado Avalanche Breakthrough (2014–2017)
Pickard made his NHL debut on October 16, 2014, replacing an injured Reto Berra against the Ottawa Senators after Semyon Varlamov was placed on injured reserve. He earned his first NHL victory on November 22, 2014, stopping all 17 shots he faced in relief during a 4–3 overtime win. He continued to perform well enough to remain the starter until Varlamov returned from injury, establishing himself as a dependable backup.
On January 16, 2016, Pickard recorded his first NHL shutout, turning aside the New Jersey Devils. On July 5, 2016, he signed his first one-way contract, a two-year, $2 million deal with the Avalanche. In 2016–17, after Varlamov suffered a season-ending injury, Pickard became Colorado’s starter and set a career high with 50 appearances, leading the last-place Avalanche in save percentage, goals against average, and wins.
Toronto Maple Leafs Era (2017–2018)
Exposed in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Pickard was the first player selected by the Vegas Golden Knights on June 21, 2017. After the Golden Knights claimed Malcolm Subban off waivers, Pickard was placed on waivers and traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2018 sixth-round pick and Tobias Lindberg. He was assigned to the Toronto Marlies, where he shared the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award with goaltender Garret Sparks and helped the Marlies capture their first Calder Cup in 2018.
Following that championship run, Pickard signed a one-year, $800,000 extension to remain in the Toronto organization.
Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, and Detroit Red Wings Era (2018–2022)
Placed on waivers during the 2018–19 pre-season, Pickard was claimed by the Philadelphia Flyers on October 2, 2018. He recorded his first shutout with the Flyers on November 23, 2018, a 4–0 Black Friday win over the New York Rangers, but was waived again on November 28 and claimed by the Arizona Coyotes the next day. After appearing in six games for Arizona without a win, he became a free agent.
On July 1, 2019, Pickard signed a two-year, $1.5 million contract with the Detroit Red Wings. He spent most of his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, earning AHL Player of the Week honors for the week of January 5, 2020, and was recalled three times by Detroit. In December 2020, he was loaned to the Vienna Capitals of the ICE Hockey League for conditioning and posted a 3–3 record before being recalled. He signed a one-year extension with the Red Wings on July 28, 2021.
Edmonton Oilers Era (2022–Present)
On July 13, 2022, Pickard signed a two-year, two-way free agent contract with the Edmonton Oilers. He spent the entire 2022–23 season with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL before being recalled on November 8, 2023, after Jack Campbell was demoted. Initially expected to be a temporary call-up, he played 23 games for Edmonton, going 12–7–1 with a .909 save percentage and recording the fifth shutout of his NHL career.
During the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pickard made his NHL playoff debut in relief during Game 3 of the second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, stopping all three shots he faced. He then started Game 4 and turned aside 20 shots in a 3–2 victory, helping Edmonton avoid a 3–1 series deficit as the Oilers eventually won the series in seven games. In the 2025 playoffs, he went 4–0 across the first round against the Los Angeles Kings, won the first two games of the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights, and later made his Stanley Cup Final debut in relief during Game 3 and a Game 4 comeback win over the Florida Panthers.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pickard is recognized for his calm temperament, sound positioning, and efficient movement in the crease. His left-catching style, strong technical foundation, and willingness to challenge shooters have made him a steady backup capable of stepping into a starting role when called upon. He has built a productive partnership with Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch and has thrived when given a defined role within a structured system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Pickard’s career highlights are his WHL career saves record set on January 22, 2012, his first NHL shutout against the New Jersey Devils in 2016, and a Calder Cup championship with the Toronto Marlies in 2018. On the international stage, he helped Canada win gold at the 2016 World Championships and earned a silver medal in 2017. His 2024 and 2025 playoff performances with the Edmonton Oilers, including multiple must-win starts, stand as defining moments of his career.
Calvin Pickard Career Wins
Across his major junior, AHL, NHL, and international career, Pickard has accumulated wins at nearly every level he has played. His victory total includes a WHL career that produced more than 90 regular-season wins with the Seattle Thunderbirds, an AHL resume highlighted by a Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies, and NHL wins spread across the Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, and Edmonton Oilers.
NHL Highlights
Pickard has earned NHL victories with the Colorado Avalanche, where he first made his mark as a backup and spot starter, and most recently with the Edmonton Oilers, where he went 12–7–1 during the 2023–24 regular season. His first NHL win came in relief on November 22, 2014, and his most recent playoff wins came during the 2025 postseason, when he went undefeated through the first round and won the first two games of the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, Pickard helped the Toronto Marlies capture the 2018 Calder Cup and earned individual recognition, including AHL Player of the Week honors with the Grand Rapids Griffins in January 2020. Internationally, he went undefeated in two appearances at the 2016 World Championships as Canada captured gold, and he also won both of his starts at the 2009 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
Calvin Pickard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Calvin Pickard was born to parents Cathy and Dan, and grew up alongside an older brother, Chet, and a sister, Kelly. Chet Pickard was himself a goaltender and a first-round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2008, later playing for German DEL clubs including the Iserlohn Roosters, Adler Mannheim, and Grizzlys Wolfsburg. The brothers’ shared path in net shaped Calvin’s early development and provided a built-in mentor as he pursued his own professional career.
Personal Life
Pickard married his wife, Courtney, in Winnipeg in June 2018. The couple has two daughters, Blakely and Ryla. The family has remained based in Canada throughout his professional career, providing steady support as he moved between organizations and leagues.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NHL regular season, Pickard served as the primary backup to Stuart Skinner and remained ready whenever called upon. Although his workload varied, he delivered dependable performances in relief appearances and helped stabilize Edmonton’s goaltending when needed.
Pickard’s most significant impact came in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a difficult start to the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings, he was inserted into the lineup and posted a 4–0 record, lifting Edmonton to a series win. He then won the first two games of the second-round matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights before a lower-body injury briefly sidelined him. He returned in the Stanley Cup Final, appearing in relief in Game 3 and starting the second period of Game 4 in a 5–4 comeback victory over the Florida Panthers.
Pickard’s poise under playoff pressure and his ability to step into high-leverage moments have positioned him as a key figure in Edmonton’s recent postseason runs. With his contract running through the 2024–25 season, his performance in 2025 has strengthened his standing within the organization and across the league.
