Canucks goaltender set to leave the organization as an unrestricted free agent

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Cooper Godin
June 27, 2024 (7:48 PM)

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The Vancouver Canucks are set to be without another goaltender next week as he opts to become an unrestricted free agent.

In addition to Casey DeSmith who won't be brought back by Allvin, according to Rick Dhaliwal, Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Zach Sawchenko has decided that he'll test the open market as a UFA at 12 pm ET on Monday, July 1st.

Dhaliwal also added that the Canucks organization could be in the market to add a veteran goaltender for the 2024-25 campaign, but he's unsure if it'll be for the big club in Vancouver or down in Abbotsford.

"Looks like Abbotsford UFA goalie Zach Sawchenko is going to test the free agent market rather than sign with the Canucks.

Also hearing the Canucks may be in the market for a veteran goalie, not sure for Vancouver or Abby." Dhaliwal said in a post on X.

The decision leaves the Canucks with three goaltenders under contract for the 2024-25 campaign - Thatcher Demko, Nikita Tolopilo and Ty Young. Arturs Silovs is set to become a restricted free agent, but he's not going anywhere and should be signed to a new contract any day now.

Sawchenko, 26, signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1st last summer, but only got into six AHL games with Abbotsford during the regular season. In those six games, Sawchenko had a record of 4-1-0 along with a 2.12 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

Due to injuries in the NHL during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Canucks needed to use Arturs Silovs as their starter and Nikita Tolopilo as their backup for a few games, leaving Sawchenko as the only realistic option for Abbotsford as they began the Calder Cup Playoffs. In six post-season games, the Calgary native went 2-4 with a 2.96 goals against average and an .898 save percentage.

It'll be interesting to see what Allvin has up his sleeve in the coming days and weeks on the goaltending market. There's no doubt that Arturs Silovs is ready and capable of being a backup full-time in the NHL, but if the organization feels he's better off in the AHL for now, starting on a regular basis, then they may have to look at options for someone to play behind Thatcher Demko.