Michel Picard is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and various other leagues throughout his career. He was born on November 10, 1969, in Beauport, Quebec, Canada.
Picard began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens in 1986. He played for the Sagueneens for three seasons, scoring 118 goals and 139 assists in 187 games. In 1989, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Picard made his NHL debut with the Flyers in the 1990-91 season, playing in 11 games and scoring one goal. He spent most of the season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he scored 28 goals and 33 assists in 63 games.
Over the next few years, Picard bounced between the NHL and AHL, playing for the Flyers, Ottawa Senators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He also played in various European leagues during the NHL lockout in the 1994-95 season.
In the 1996-97 season, Picard played for the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League (IHL), where he had a career-high 51 goals and 44 assists in 81 games. He also helped lead the Vipers to the Turner Cup championship that season.
Picard returned to the NHL in the 1997-98 season, playing for the Nashville Predators. He played in 71 games that season, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists. He also played for the Predators in the 1998-99 season, but was limited to just 12 games due to injury.
After his time with the Predators, Picard played in various minor leagues, including the AHL, IHL, and United Hockey League (UHL). He also played in Europe for several seasons, including stints in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Picard retired from professional hockey in 2001, finishing his career with 11 goals and 14 assists in 94 NHL games, and 365 goals and 383 assists in 791 games in various minor leagues.
Overall, Picard had a successful hockey career, playing in multiple leagues and countries throughout his career. He was known for his scoring ability and was a key player on several championship teams.
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