Per the Detroit Red Wings:
The #RedWings today signed goaltender Calvin Pickard to a 2-year contract. pic.twitter.com/BefLkn6rzU
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 1, 2019
Here’s Helene St. James on Pickard:
Pickard is slated to play with the Grand Rapids Griffins in tandem with Filip Larsson. Pickard, 27, has appeared in 104 NHL games, posting a 2.93 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. He spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and Arizona Coyotes.
The Wings are set in their own net, with Jimmy Howard and Jonathan Bernier under contract. Larsson, 20, is starting his pro career in the fall, after a standout freshman year at University of Denver. Larsson spent half a year recovering from a gruesome groin injury, debuting for the Pioneers in November and going on to post a .932 save percentage and 1.94 goals-against average in 22 games.
Pickard and Larsson should provide some stability for the Griffins. Last season’s goaltenders, Harri Sateri (2.84 GAA, .899 save percentage in 40 games) and Patrik Rybar (2.49 GAA, .908 save percentage in 37 games) have both signed with European teams.
MLive’s Ansar Khan also confirms:
The Detroit Red Wings signed goaltender Calvin Pickard to a two-year contract on Monday.
Pickard will be given an opportunity to compete with Jonathan Bernier for the back-up job in Detroit but likely will wind up with the Grand Rapids Griffins, sharing duties with top goalie prospect Filip Larsson.
Pickard, 27, was 4-6-2, with a 3.86 goals-against average and .875 save percentage last season with Philadelphia and Arizona. He has a career record of 32-50-9, with a 2.93 GAA, .908 save percentage and four shutouts. The 49th overall pick for Colorado in 2010 also played for the Avalanche and Toronto.
