Pickford With Another Dominant Performance In WHL

The Habs prospect came out on Saturday and took over the game with his heavy shot from the point. Pickford scored his first goal of the game in the first period off a drop pass by his defensive partner Jonas Woo at the line, where the Canadiens prospect skated up the left side before firing a wrist shot from the faceoff circle dot that put the Tigers up 2-0.

His next goal came on the power play, where he does a lot of his goal-scoring magic. The play was set up by Liam and Markus Ruck, who set Pickford up for a beautiful shot from just inside the left circle. Pickford’s original shot got blocked, but he got the puck right back and was able to score to give the Tigers the 3-0 lead at the halfway point of the game.

After the Wild finally got on the board, Pickford scored his 3rd of the night late in the 2nd period. Pickford’s hat-trick goal came again on the power play, in a similar location on the ice to where he scored his 2nd of the night. The biggest difference was that he had more time and space, as well as the fact that his one-timer got through to put the Tigers up 4-1. If it hadn’t been for the Wild’s goal that came in between his two power play goals, Pickford would have had a natural hat trick, as he scored three goals in a row for the Tigers.

The celebration was also top-notch from Pickford, who threw his helmet down on the ice to contribute to all the hats that were thrown on the ice. It gave Pickford a chance to celly with his nice flow of hair out as well. All in all, it was a great hat-trick goal and an even nicer way to celebrate it.

With his three goals on the night, Pickford registered his 20th marker of the regular season in just his 28th game of the year. That ties his total from all of last year, but in 20 fewer games. His 20 goals are also the 2nd most in the entire WHL among all positions, behind only forward J.P. Hurlbert. His 36 points in 28 games are tied for 1st among defensemen in the WHL with teammate Jonas Woo so far this season.

As it stands, he’s on pace for 47 goals in 66 WHL games this season as a defenseman. This would be the most by any defenseman in the WHL since Murray Duval put up 47 goals in the 1990-91 season with the Kamloops Blazers. However, that was during an era where goal scoring was much higher, making Pickford’s numbers more impressive.

Although this season it may be easier for the top players in the WHL to record points, given that many junior-eligible players have opted to go play in the NCAA. Nonetheless, the fact that he has the 2nd most goals in the WHL as a defenseman is still a great sign for the Habs prospect going forward.

Pickford has the potential to be a great power-play specialist in the NHL with his big shot. He will definitely need to round out his defensive game, but his offensive game is showing the ability that he can be a threat in some way at the NHL level as a sheltered 3rd pairing defenseman at the very least. With that being said, the Habs’ defensive system is looking like they have a great future with guys like Pickford, Adam Engstrom, and David Reinbacher in their prospect pool.

Do you think Bryce Pickford has a future in the NHL with the Canadiens?