Coming into this offseason, the major fear with the Avs was that they would rush Calvin Pickard's development to try to for a quick fix in goal.
However, since then, the Avs have traded for Semyon Varlamov and signed Jean-Sebastien Giguere. They also recently signed Erik Desjardins, effectively filling out their major and minor league roster.
Desjardins is a good choice for a Lake Erie goalie. He's young, he's talented and he has the ability to be a starter. Behind him will probably be Trevor Cann, the Avs' 2007 second round draft pick. Between the two of them, the Avs can now send Pickard back to the WHL.
With Varlamov in the system, it is paramount that the Avs let Pickard develop naturally and slowly, honing him to become an NHL goalie for a long time. Pickard is still 19 and still has a lot of work in all areas of his game.
By sending him back to the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds for him to play a lot of minutes in all kinds of situations. He can continue to hone his game.
After this year, Pickard can join the Monsters in Lake Erie and play there for two years, to continue adjusting and honing.
The worst thing a team can do with a goalie is rush him. Goalies usually take four full years to develop. The Marc-Andre Fleury's and Carey Price's of the world are super rare. Most goalies are like Pekka Rinne who took four full years before he was ready to be a starter at the NHL level.
Rushing Pickard, a very talented prospect, can only end up badly for the Avs. The best way for the goaltending situation to work out for the Avs is to eventually have Pickard pushing Varlamov in a contest of which goaltender is better.
The picks given up notwithstanding, the move for Varlamov was and still is a prudent move to find a long-term solution in goal, the key missing piece to every Avs team since 2003. Varlamov could be the guy and yet it could be Pickard but the Avs need to dedicate patience and resources to both in order for either to be the answer.
Don't rush Pickard and do not push Varlamov too hard too early. The Avs have planted some good seeds on goaltending, they just have to be patient and care enough for the seeds to make them grow accordingly.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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