Calvin Pickard, who could be the Avalanche’s goalie of the future, signed a two-year “bridge” contract with the team Tuesday as a restricted free agent. The 24-year-old will make $925,000 next season and $1,075,000 in 2017-18 for a $1 million annual cap hit. He will again be a restricted free agent in 2018 unless he signs an extension.
Pickard made his NHL debut in the 2014-15 season but began last season in the minors, with Reto Berra serving as Semyon Varlamov’s backup. Berra was traded to Florida last month and Pickard — who often leapfrogged Berra as Varlamov’s backup when called up from the minors — will compete with Varlamov for playing time in 2016-17.