McCollum or Pickard?

Hey guys, I'm in the middle of a draft here and pretty much have it down to two goalies: Thomas McCollum and Chet Pickard. While Pickard was WHL goalie of the year last year, McCollum won a bunch of awards too (i.e. goalie of the week/month). I also feel like McCollum's numbers are more self earned than Pickard, who likely benefited from a better defensive team.

Who do you guys think is the better pick here and how long before either of them are in the NHL?

tough to say right now whose better... these goalie things usually don't sort themselves until a few years have passed.

right now, i'd say pickard has the edge in talent, but i really have very little except what i've read to base that on.

now, mccollum is a red wing, and its hard to imagine that team ever being bad. if he can play for them, he'll be fantasy gold. the question is how long that takes. jimmy howard is a capable goalie, but they seem intent on not trusting their team with him. how long will mccollum have to wait? can you afford to wait that long?

Yeah, whoever I get will wait in the works for a few years I am guessing. I have Turco and Gerber in net right now, with Hedberg on the side...I'll be looking for another goalie for now, but neither of these two will be the "now" goalie. I'll sign them to a prospect contract and put him on lay away.

Pickard. I have doubts that McCollum will ever play for the Wings if he sticks in. In terms of talent level when they were drafted, I don't see much of a difference in Howard and McCollum. MCCollum would have a bit of an advantage, but they're close enough to be seen and compared.

Truth is, as long as Detroit is competitive, they're going to bring goalies in. They draft well and players sign for cheaper than market, so they can afford to buy up goalies. Howard won't be getting a shot, and I'd say there's higher than 50% odds McCollum won't either.

Pickard has a bunch of goalie talent in front of him, but Nashville are cheap and impatient so he'll get his chance.

lockedge wrote:
but Nashville are cheap and impatient so he'll get his chance.
hahah, ain't that the truth!

i'm thinking Pickard will certainly be better than Ellis, but we've yet to really see what Rinne is made of

anyway, can't hurt to just pick the higher drafted goalie. you can generally trust nashville's scouting staff.

I was really going to go with McCollum here, but you guys talked me into it. I guess it wasnt too much of an argument, but oh well. I took Pickard.

Good choice, I would have taken Pickard.