There isn't any question that Calvin Pickard belongs in the NHL. The 22-year-old goalie has proven it time and time again during his abbreviated stays with the Avalanche.
Pickard had another exceptional game Tuesday in Carolina when he made 31 of his 44 saves while teammates were sleepwalking through the first two periods. The Avalanche wound up getting a point from the 3-2 shootout loss, the third time they've picked up one when Pickard has faced more than 40 shots (the other two in overtime losses to St. Louis and Pittsburgh).
A second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2010 NHL draft, Pickard played two full seasons with Lake Erie before this one, an unusual season in which he's been recalled four times -- the first three times because of injuries to Semyon Varlamov and/or Reto Berra, this stint because the Avalanche had a lot more faith in him than in Berra to give Varlamov a night off when playing back-to-back games.
The question is: what are the Avalanche going to do with him now?
They have four more games before the Jan. 24-25 NHL All-Star Weekend, three on this trip and next Wednesday's home game with Boston. There is an off-day between each game, so Varlamov will play at least three and possibly all four.
But what happens after that?
Pickard has a deceiving 6-6-3 record overall in Colorado with a 2.18 goals-against average that is seventh best in the league. His .936 save percentage is No. 1 in the league. He's gone 3-1-3 in his past seven starts while stopping 250 of 265 shots for a 2.06 average and .943 save percentage
Sure, they could ship him back to Lake Erie when Berra completes his "conditioning" stint with the AHL team, but what's the point? The Avalanche will say he needs to play, that it doesn't help his development to sit behind Varlamov, a Vezina Trophy finalist a year ago, for long stretches when the team is trying to get into the playoff picture.
I suppose Pickard's fate could be tied to how well -- or poorly -- Berra plays with Lake Erie during his two-week assignment. Coach Patrick Roy has made it known he hasn't been pleased with Berra's work habits in practices, and you can be sure the Avalanche is keeping tabs on his progress with Monsters coach Dean Chynoweth.
Would the Avalanche put Berra on waivers for the purpose of leaving him in Cleveland? Keep in mind that Berra is in the first year of a three-year, $4.35 million contract with a salary cap hit of $1.45 million.
Pickard is in the final year of his entry-level contract and will be a restricted free agent after the season. Wouldn't it make sense for someone (Minnesota?) to tender him an offer sheet?
Not sure what Pickard's trade value would be, but you have to consider moving him. It doesn't make sense to keep him in the minors beyond this season, and why would he agree to such a scenario when he's shown he can play at a much higher level?
Best-case scenario: unload Berra and keep Pickard, but good luck with that. And, no, they aren't going to deal Varlamov.
I'd hate to see Pickard leave but don't know of any other realistic option.