From pro journeyman to Stanley Cup playoff goaltender, Calvin Pickard’s rise is a great story 

Calvin Pickard has had a wild ride of an NHL career. 

The 32-year-old goaltender was drafted 49th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2010. But 14 years later, Pickard has played only 139 regular-season games. And he has done so across six different teams. 

Now, the Edmonton native is in a position to potentially backstop the Edmonton Oilers to a second-round series win against the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Stuart Skinner really struggled in these playoffs, holding a .877 save percentage and 3.22 goals-against average in eight games against the Los Angeles Kings and Canucks. His overall .881 playoff save percentage is among the worst in NHL history. 

After Skinner allowed four goals on 19 shots in Game 3, Pickard was called on in relief. He stopped all three shots faced in the third period, but the Oilers were unable to overcome a two-goal deficit and lost 4-3. 

Then Pickard got his first career playoff start in Game 4. A game in which Edmonton could have gone down 3-1 and been forced to go back to Vancouver and fight for their playoff lives. 

Instead, Pickard stopped 21 of 23 (.905 save percentage) and earned a huge 3-2 win. Now, he will likely be the guy going forward for the Oilers in these playoffs.. 

Frank Seravalli: It’s amazing in the pedigree [of goalies in the playoffs]. You’ve got some of these guys that are going to be the best in the league. And then you’ve got [Arturs] Silovs and Pickard… He’s an afterthought at free agency. He is someone that’s a nice ‘break glass’ in case of an emergency guy that the Oilers brought in. It makes the story so rewarding. 

Carter Hutton: I agree. A very similar story to my career. At points, I just bounced around from team to team getting contracts… To be in there and what he has done this year, especially having a .909 save percentage for the Oilers during the regular season, which was huge, especially with the Jack Campbell situation… It’s always nice to see guys step out and really get it done come playoff time…

… At times, it feels helpless (bouncing around to different teams)… He’s been a guy that has been serviceable. The thing that teams love about him is he’s a locker-room guy… He’s not going to undermine Stuart Skinner. Even right now… He’s just a battler. His commitment to the team and his all-around personality, it’s great to see him getting rewarded right now. 

You can watch the full segment and episode here: