Nashville goalie prospect Chet Pickard will play in Sweden next season. The Predators' 2008 first-round pick will play with Djurgarden, which was recently demoted to Sweden's second teier. The 22-year-old had a 3.12 goals-against average and .890 save percentage last season in the ECHL. "For me it's all about results in a game," Pickard said. "I feel good right now and focused and energized. I can't wait to get over there and play exhibition games and get the season started. ... It's a change of scenery, which is nice. I want what's best for me and I feel like by going here I get closer to my final goal which is being in the NHL."

Chet Pickard has been reassigned to AHL Milwaukee. He has played the majority of the 2011-12 campaign in the ECHL, but the Admirals starter, Jeremy Smith, has been suspended for one game for his part in a brawl Sunday versus Rockford.

Chet Pickard has been called up by the Nashville Predators. Pickard had a 3.12 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 ECHL games this season. He isn't expected to get any playing time with the Predators, but he will allow Pekka Rinne to get a breather in practices.

Chet Pickard is looking for a big season in 2011-12. Pickard was hoping to crack the Nashville lineup last season as the backup goalie behind Pekka Rinne but lost the battle to Anders Lindback and ended up in the ECHL after bombing in the AHL for Milwaukee. But he turned his game around in Cincinnati and the Predators rewarded him with a callup in the playoffs as the third goalie. "I saw in him on the ice something I had never seen," goaltending coach Mitch Korn said. "He was really, really good. He really was. And we hadn't seen that in awhile from him. I think that really changed everything for him." Pickard also lost weight in the off-season and comes into training camp in the best shape of his life. While he will be hard pressed to beat out Lindback, stranger things have happened in hockey. Stay tuned.