General Manager Patrik Allvin announced on Sunday that the Vancouver Canucks have signed goaltender Dylan Ferguson to a professional tryout (PTO). The 25-year-old Ferguson played for Dinamo Minsk of the KHL last season, posting a .904 save percentage and 2.51 goals against average in 23 games.
The former WHL Kamloops Blazers and Lantzville BC-born goaltender has only appeared in three NHL games—one with the Vegas Golden Knights, and two with the Ottawa Senators.
Allvin told Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre that head coach Rick Tocchet plans to use three training groups for camp. This gives him six goaltenders to do that, giving them a good look at Ferguson and providing more internal competition amongst Arturs Silovs, Jiri Patera, Nikita Tolopilo, Ty Young, and Jonathan Lemieux.
Tocchet also mentioned that star goaltender, Thatcher Demko, is progressing well and improving daily. So, there is still a shroud of mystery on Demko’s status for the upcoming training camp, exhibition schedule, and regular season. However, if you listen to rumors, there are rumblings that Demko will miss training camp and the start of the regular season. Time will tell, but it does leave Canucks fans feeling a bit anxious.
Canucks main training camp gets underway this Thursday, September 19th, and runs through Sunday, September 22nd, at the Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, British Columbia.
