Vegas insider reveals harsh message Golden Knights sent to Calvin Pickard
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Vegas Golden Knights were infamous for being ruthless with their team building after the expansion draft, and one of their victims was Oilers goalie Calvin Pickard.
Pickard's now stepped into the starter's role and is expected to start Game 1 for the Oilers against Vegas, and he'll have some personal reason to beat them.
Vegas insider reveals Golden Knights harsh message to Calvin Pickard
Vegas selected Pickard in the expansion draft before the 2017-18 season, but was then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs before playing a game.
According to a Golden Knights insider, Pickard was thrilled to be playing for Vegas and held a fan-run competition to design his goalie mask, but then management said he wasn't near good enough to play for them.
He's a journeyman. Lucky to be in the role that he is. And I mean, the Golden Knight cut him for a reason in the 2017-2018 season. Very famously, he puts out a tweet or a post. Basically, his helmet design was in honor of Vegas and for the fans and everything. And a couple of days later, (Vegas hockey boss Kelly) McCrimmon's like, 'Get out of here, bro, you're done.'»
- Chris Gawlick, Locked on Vegas
- Chris Gawlick, Locked on Vegas
It's a harsh message to Pickard both then and now that Vegas doesn't view him as a competent NHL goaltender. Not only that, but he had to toss the custom helmet.
Since Game 3 against Los Angeles, Pickard has stepped up with some clutch performances to backstop the Oilers to a series win. Pickard has consistently performed better against top 10 teams than Skinner.
He'll be feeling confident heading into the second round, and ready to stick it to a group that didn't believe in him. Hopefully, the Oilers can get another series win.
| POLL | ||
MAI 5 | 759 ANSWERS Vegas insider reveals harsh message Golden Knights sent to Calvin Pickard Do you think Vegas was wrong to dump Pickard so fast? | ||
| Yes | 615 | 81 % |
| No | 144 | 19 % |
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