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Maple Leafs acquire Calvin Pickard from Golden Knights for prospect, pick

Stephen R. Sylvanie / USA Today Sports

The Toronto Maple Leafs have supplemented their goaltending depth by acquiring Calvin Pickard from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward prospect Tobias Lindberg and a sixth-round draft pick in 2018, the team announced Friday.

Pickard, 25, was acquired by Vegas in the expansion draft from the Colorado Avalanche, but was made expendable when the club decided to claim Malcolm Subban off waivers from the Boston Bruins.

With the Avs last year, Pickard posted a record of 15-31-2 with a .904 save percentage and a 2.98 goals-against average.

With a superior team in front of him, Pickard upped his game while competing for Team Canada at the 2017 World Championship, recording a .938 save percentage and a 1.49 goals-against average in seven games, backstopping Canada to a silver medal.

Pickard will start in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, but he will provide internal competition to the Leafs' current backup, veteran Curtis McElhinney.

As for Lindberg, the 22-year-old was acquired by the Leafs from the Ottawa Senators in the Dion Phaneuf trade. In 44 games with the Marlies last season, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound winger tallied six goals and 10 assists.

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