Canucks in crisis: Patrik Allvin navigating trade options after important loss to their depth chart
On a recent episode of Donnie and Dhali: The Team, Rick Dhaliwal offered his thoughts on the Vancouver Canucks' recent loss of goaltender Jiri Patera, who was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins.
Dhaliwal, who's well-known for his insider insights, didn't hold back when addressing how this impacts the Canucks' already precarious goaltending situation. According to him, Vancouver is most likely not happy with the way things unfolded, as losing Patera puts the team in a vulnerable spot when it comes to organizational depth between the pipes.
Currently, the Canucks have three goaltenders under contract: Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen, and Arturs Silovs. While this trio provides solid NHL-level coverage, Dhaliwal pointed out that the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks are now in a tough spot with the departure of Patera. Without him, Abbotsford lacks a veteran AHL starter who can shoulder the load, leaving the team without a true number-one netminder at the minor league level.
Dhaliwal expressed concerns that the Canucks' goaltending depth looks shaky beyond their NHL roster. "Abbotsford really doesn't have any AHL quality veteran starters right now with the loss of Patera," he noted, underscoring how critical the need for experienced depth has become. The lack of a veteran goalie in the system may affect development and consistency at the AHL level, something the organization can't afford to ignore.
Looking ahead, Dhaliwal suggested that the Canucks could be active in the waiver market as they seek to bolster their AHL goaltending situation. He hinted that Vancouver may pursue a move to bring in a seasoned AHL goaltender who can provide stability for Abbotsford, ensuring that the team doesn't suffer from a lack of experience in net.
Interestingly, Dhaliwal also pointed out that the recent acquisition of Kevin Lankinen now looks like a much more strategic move in light of Patera's departure. While initially seen as a depth signing, Lankinen's presence has now become crucial for Vancouver's organizational depth.
