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Player's Profile

Picture Courtesy of Holly Gunning

  • Name: Chet Pickard
  • Position: G
  • Catches: Left
  • Height: 6-2
  • Weight: 213 lbs
  • Birthdate: 1989-11-29
  • Eligible for Draft: 2008
  • Drafted: 2008
  • Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Acquired: 1st round (18th overall), 2008
  • Playing In: Pro

Chet Pickard

Prospect Grade: 7.5 D  (About Prospect Grades)

Profile Contributed By: HF Staff

History

2007-08: Pickard began the year with the thankless responsibility of following Carey Price as the Tri-City Americans starting goaltender. He embraced the opportunity, posting a 46-12-2 record in 64 games for the WHL regular season champions. Pickard was rewarded for his consistent play this season, recognized as the Top Goaltender in the CHL, and WHL goaltender of the year.

2008-09: In his fourth junior season, Pickard played 50 games as the starting goaltender for Tri-City. He finished with a 35-12-3 record, 2.28 goals against average, .921 save percentage, and a career-high 6 shutouts. Pickard played 11 playoff games for the Americans, finishing with a 6-4-1 record, 3.41 goals against average, and .877 save percentage. He suited up for Canada's gold medal winning squad at the WJC, where he earned a .50 goals against average and .958 save percentage in 2 appearances. He earned the Del Wilson Trophy as the WHL's top goaltender for the second consecutive season and was again named to the league's First All-Star Team.

HF's July 2009 Q&A with Pickard.

2009-10: Pickard appeared in 34 games with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals in his rookie season. The netminder finished with a 14-16-3 record, 2.85 goals against average, and a .892 save percentage. He gave up 1 goal on 10 shots in a brief playoff appearance for the Admirals.

2010-11: Pickard was the odd-man out for AHL Milwaukee in his second pro season as former Colgate goalie Mark Dekanich and 2007 second-round pick Jeremy Smith handled the bulk of the goaltending duties for the Admirals. Pickard appeared in seven games for Milwaukee, spending most of the season with Cincinnati in the ECHL. He had a 1-5 record with one overtime loss and had a 2.96 GAA and .899 save percentage for with Milwaukee. Pickard did not fare much better with the Cyclones - he was 9-17 with one shutout in 29 games with a 3.39 GAA and .877 save percentage and did not see any playoff action.
 

Talent Analysis

Pickard's greatest asset is his mental game, staying very at ease in the net.  He plays a butterfly style and uses his size effectively. Pickard covers the net with efficiency and has become proficient in corralling the many pucks that inevitably come into contact with his upper body. He plays his angles well, likes to play the puck.

"Pickard is a much more relaxed, patient, 'stand-upish' goalie, and waits for the puck more than other guys," described Mitch Korn, goaltending coach for the Nashville Predators.

Pickard needs "to elevate the urgency and quickness,” Korn said. “He's got the quickness, but he's got to get out of that comfort zone, the junior speed and crank it a couple of notches."

Future

Pickard has great potential, but a horrific season has put his future in doubt. He could play in the AHL next season, but Nashville's goaltending depth could easily force him to the ECHL again, especially if he performs like the previous season.

Stats

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Profile Last Updated: December, 20th 2011

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