The Minnesota Wild have a goalie problem, and their answer is Calvin Pickard.
Let’s back up. Filip Gustavsson went under the knife recently, and nobody’s sure if he’ll be ready for the start of the season. The Wild chose to ride Jesper Wallstedt through most of the playoffs after getting bounced by Colorado in the second round. So now general manager Bill Guerin needed insurance. Enter Pickard, who signed a one-year deal worth $1 million for the 2026-27 season.
A veteran with mileage
Pickard has been around. Eleven seasons, six teams, 191 NHL games. His career numbers aren’t flashy — 74-77-14 with a 2.96 goals-against average and .901 save percentage — but he’s suited up for Colorado, Toronto, Philadelphia, Arizona, Detroit, and Edmonton. The guy knows how to pack a bag.
What might matter more for Minnesota is his recent playoff experience. Pickard played 13 postseason games with the Oilers over the last two years, going 8-2 with a 2.72 GAA. He was part of those Edmonton teams that made back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025. That’s not nothing for a team that’s still trying to break through.
Last season was rough
Pickard’s 2025-26 campaign in Edmonton did not go great. He went 5-6-2 in 16 appearances with a 3.68 GAA and an .871 save percentage. Oilers GM Stan Bowman put him on waivers, and when nobody claimed him, he got sent to Bakersfield in the AHL. Down there he posted a 4-3-1 record with a 3.26 GAA and .886 save percentage in eight games.
Not exactly numbers that scream “savior.” But the Wild aren’t asking him to be that. They need someone who can hold the fort if Gustavsson isn’t ready, and maybe push Wallstedt a little bit. Pickard knows the backup role. He’s lived it.
Whether Gustavsson makes it back for opening night or not, the Wild have some buffer now. Pickard at $1 million is a low-risk bet on a guy who’s been through the playoff grinder. Even if his recent work suggests the grinder might be done with him.
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