Picard is expected to provide competition within the defensive corps after signing a one-year, two-way deal in the offseason. He has 236 career games worth of NHL experience, including 43 appearances with Montreal in 2010-11. However, the 26-year-old defenseman collected only eight points (3 G, 5 A) between those contests, though he did have 55 hits and 59 blocked shots. There's little reason to anticipate any sort of breakout from Picard in 2011-12.
Picard is going to have a tough time finding room to an alreadyb loaded blue line. He will however provide excellent depth incase someone goes down to injury or suspension. Unless that break comes for Picard don't expect him to get much ice time. With Markov dealing with injuries early this season and not expected to return to lineup until October, Picard will get an extended look and could make his way on to final roster.
Picard missed a lot of time at the end of the year due to an injury, but he's fully recovered and ready to go. Look for him to spend some time on Ottawa's second power-play unit as he has a big shot from the point. While still young, Picard will need to prove himself this year in order to stick with Ottawa as there are a few other Ottawa blueliners who'll challenge him for power-play time. If all goes well, he could hit 10 goals and upwards of 20 assists.
Picard will likely be Ottawa's 6th defenseman this year. He has good offensive upside and skates well. At only 22 years of age, Picard still has a lot to learn defensively, but under the guidance of head coach Craig Hartsburg, Picard should make good progress this year. He was the one player that Bryan Murray specifically asked for in the Andrej Meszaros trade, so Ottawa's management obviously thinks quite highly of the youngster.
The 2007-08 NHL season will currently the second year of his contract. At the start of last season Picard started with the Phantoms, but after just six games, he was called up to replace the injured Mike Rathje and began his rookie season in the NHL. Picard proved he could stay in the NHL when, on February 1, 2007, he recorded five assists in a game against the New Jersey Devils, nearly tying the franchise record set by Eric Lindros.
