Robert Picard

Robert Rene Joseph Picard (born May 25, 1957) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player.

For the American writer and scholar, see Robert G. Picard.
Robert Picard
Born (1957-05-25) May 25, 1957
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 02 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Washington Capitals
Toronto Maple Leafs
Montreal Canadiens
Winnipeg Jets
Quebec Nordiques
Detroit Red Wings
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 3rd overall, 1977
Washington Capitals
WHA Draft 38th overall, 1977
Quebec Nordiques
Playing career 1977–1990

Career

Robert Picard established himself as a highly regarded defensive prospect with the Montreal Juniors and Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge from 1973 to 1977. He was selected 3rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1977 NHL Entry Draft.

In Washington, expectations were high due to the team's abysmal performance, and Picard was expected to single-handedly reverse the losing fortunes. Picard played well, but after three seasons of unrealistic expectations he was traded to Toronto in exchange for goaltender Mike Palmateer. Toronto management gave Picard little opportunity to show what he was capable of, sending him to his hometown Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Michel Larocque in March, 1981. In his hometown, the expectations were raised even higher and, as before, Picard, in his sensitivity, tried to do more than he could.

In 1983, he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets and was paired with fellow defender Randy Carlyle, with whom he found an opportunity to play within his means. The time in Winnipeg was good but short. Just over two seasons later, he was again on the move, this time to the Quebec Nordiques, where he was a regular on the blueline for four seasons before retiring after a 20-game stint with the Red Wings in 1990.

Trivia

Picard was traded to the Winnipeg Jets by the Montreal Canadiens for Winnipeg's 3rd round choice in the 1984 Entry Draft, November 4, 1983. Montreal would use that draft pick to select goaltender Patrick Roy, who would go on to a Hall of Fame career.

Robert Picard signed with the Capitals after he was drafted with the team’s first choice (third overall) in the 1977 NHL amateur draft. He later realized he could make more money in the World Hockey Association and signed a five-year deal for $625,000 with the WHA’s Quebec Nordiques in Sept., 1977. But the WHA barred Picard from playing with the Nords, realizing that the league would face a lawsuit from the NHL if he suited up. An angry and frustrated Picard said “I’d rather deliver pizzas in Quebec City” than play hockey in Washington. A few days later he reported for his first Capitals training camp.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1973–74 Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge QMJHL 70 7 46 53 286 9 1 4 5 6
1974–75 Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge QMJHL 70 13 74 87 337 8 1 3 4 37
1975–76 Montreal Juniors QMJHL 72 14 67 81 282 6 2 9 11 25
1976–77 Montreal Juniors QMJHL 70 32 60 92 267 13 2 10 12 20
1977–78 Washington Capitals NHL 75 10 27 37 101 — — — — —
1978–79 Washington Capitals NHL 77 21 44 65 85 — — — — —
1979–80 Washington Capitals NHL 78 11 43 54 122 — — — — —
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 59 6 19 25 68 — — — — —
1980–81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 8 2 2 4 6 1 0 0 0 0
1981–82 Montreal Canadiens NHL 62 2 26 28 106 5 1 1 2 7
1982–83 Montreal Canadiens NHL 64 7 31 38 60 3 0 0 0 0
1983–84 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7 0 2 2 0 — — — — —
1983–84 Winnipeg Jets NHL 62 6 16 22 34 3 0 0 0 12
1984–85 Winnipeg Jets NHL 78 12 22 34 107 8 2 2 4 8
1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 20 2 5 7 17 — — — — —
1985–86 Quebec Nordiques NHL 48 7 27 34 36 3 0 2 2 2
1986–87 Quebec Nordiques NHL 78 8 20 28 71 13 2 10 12 10
1987–88 Quebec Nordiques NHL 65 3 13 16 103 — — — — —
1988–89 Quebec Nordiques NHL 74 7 14 21 61 — — — — —
1989–90 Quebec Nordiques NHL 24 0 5 5 28 — — — — —
1989–90 Detroit Red Wings NHL 20 0 3 3 20 — — — — —
NHL totals 899 104 319 423 1025 36 5 15 20 39

International
Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1978 Canada WC 10 1 2 3 4
1979 Canada WC 7 0 0 0 2
Senior totals 17 1 2 3 6
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Preceded by
Greg Carroll		 Washington Capitals first round draft pick
1977		 Succeeded by
Ryan Walter
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