On the eve of their first-ever game as a franchise, the Golden Knights waived backup goaltender Calvin Pickard Thursday.
Pickard, who was the first player selected by the Knights in the June 21 NHL Expansion Draft when he was taken from the Colorado Avalanche, was expected to back up starter Marc-Andre-Fleury. That job now goes to Malcolm Subban, who has all of two games’ NHL experience and will be on the bench in Texas Friday when the Knights open the season against the Dallas Stars.
General manager George McPhee confirmed the transaction at Thursday’s team practice at City National Arena but would not give further comment.