In a surprising move, the Vancouver Canucks announced on Sunday that they have signed goaltender Dylan Ferguson to a professional tryout agreement. This comes as a bit of a shock to many in the NHL world, as Ferguson, at 25 years old, has had an interesting journey in his professional career so far.
Last season, Ferguson played in the KHL for Minsk Dynamo, where he posted a solid 9-9-0 record with a .904 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average in 23 appearances. This performance caught the attention of the Canucks, who are looking to bolster their goaltending depth.
Ferguson, a seventh-round pick by the Dallas Stars in 2017, made headlines when he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights just two days after being drafted. His time in Vegas was short-lived, appearing in only one NHL game, but he made the most of it with a .929 save percentage and a 2.81 GAA. He also had a brief stint with the Ottawa Senators, appearing in two games.
The British Columbia native has had success in the ECHL, winning the Kelly Cup with the Fort Wayne Comets in 2021. Ferguson has also seen action in the AHL with various teams, showcasing his skills and versatility in different leagues.
The timing of Ferguson’s signing is interesting, as the Canucks are facing uncertainty with their current goaltenders. Both Thatcher Demko and Arturs Silovs are dealing with knee injuries, leaving their availability for the upcoming season in question.
Demko, who has been rehabbing a knee injury since last season’s playoffs, played through the pain in the first round before ultimately being sidelined. The Canucks managed to make it to the second round, but fell short in a seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers.
Silovs, on the other hand, was unable to compete for Latvia in Olympic qualifying due to knee inflammation. The young goalie’s absence was felt by his national team, and now the Canucks are faced with the challenge of managing their goaltending situation.
Canucks president Jim Rutherford remained tight-lipped about the status of Demko and Silovs when questioned on September 6. “Fair to say that we will wait until they get their training camp physicals,” Rutherford said, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering about the future of the team’s goaltending situation.
With Ferguson’s signing, the Canucks are hoping to add some stability to their goaltending depth and provide some insurance in case Demko and Silovs are unable to start the season. It will be interesting to see how Ferguson performs during training camp and if he can earn a spot on the Canucks’ roster for the upcoming season.
