Let’s hope the rumours aren’t true and that Thatcher Demko and Arturs Silovs are ready to start the season. However, if not, it could be a great opportunity for a Vancouver Island born goalie.
On Sunday, the Vancouver Canucks announced they signed goaltender Dylan Ferguson to a professional tryout contract.
The 25-year-old from Lantzville, a coastal community on Vancouver Island’s east side, played in the KHL for Dinamo Minsk last season.
With Thatcher Demko’s availability for the start of the regular season still uncertain, the Canucks have been exploring options for an experienced goaltender.
Prior to this announcement, there were reports that the team was pursuing free-agent goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the #Canucks have signed G Dylan Ferguson to a PTO.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 16, 2024
The Canucks also reportedly held discussions with Antti Raanta, who confirmed they spoke before he decided to retire from the NHL and return to Europe.
Ferguson has just three NHL games under his belt, with his debut back in the 2017-18 season. At just 19 years old, he was thrown into action for the Golden Knights after a string of goaltender injuries, stepping in to relieve Maxime Lagace.
After a five-year absence from playing in the NHL, he was called up by the Ottawa Senators organization due to Cam Talbot’s injury, and made the most of it in a memorable game.
In his first NHL start with the Senators, Ferguson made 48 saves on 49 shots in a 2-1 victory. He played one more game for Ottawa, stopping 30 of 34 shots in a loss, before being sent back to the AHL’s Belleville Senators.
Last season, Ferguson suited up for HC Dinamo Minsk in Belarus, where he posted a .904 save percentage across 23 games as backup to Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alexei Kolosov.
With limited NHL experience, Ferguson is unlikely to be a long-term solution for the Canucks, which may be a positive sign for Demko’s recovery. However, he offers the team another option during training camp and preseason.
If he performs well, he could earn a one-year deal as a temporary backup to Arturs Silovs until Demko returns, and then compete for a spot with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL.
