ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild have found their backup goaltender, signing veteran netminder Calvin Pickard in free agency.

With Filip Gustavsson expected to miss the start of the 2026-27 season, Pickard gives Minnesota an experienced option to share the crease with Jesper Wallstedt early in the year.

The 34-year-old is coming off three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, where he emerged as a dependable backup and made key playoff appearances during the club's consecutive runs to the Stanley Cup Final.

Pickard appeared in 36 regular-season games in 2024-25, posting a 22-10-1 record while providing steady play behind Edmonton's starter. 

Last season, he started 13 games and went 5-6-2 with a 3.68 goals-against average and a .871 save percentage. He is 74-77-14 in his NHL career with a 2.96 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage with five shutouts.

He has played in 191 career games across 11 seasons with six different teams. The Wild will be his seventh team in his 12th season.

A veteran of more than a decade in professional hockey, Pickard brings valuable NHL experience to a Wild team that needed a reliable backup while Gustavsson recovers.

His addition also allows Minnesota to avoid rushing Wallstedt into a heavier workload than planned to begin the season.

The signing addresses one of the Wild's biggest needs on the opening day of free agency and gives the club stability in net heading into training camp.

Pickard's deal is a one-year, $1 million.

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