With Jiří Patera Gone, The Abbotsford Canucks Should Consider Signing An Experienced Goaltender For The 2024-25 Season

The Vancouver Canucks were dealt a little bit of a surprise Wednesday when Jiří Patera was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins. While there is always a risk when players are put on waivers, there was not much panic in the fan base when the announcement came out that Patera was placed on waivers Tuesday afternoon. Now that he is officially no longer with the organization, it would be a smart move by the Abbotsford Canucks to see if they can bring in an experienced goaltender for the upcoming season.

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Currently, Abbotsford has three goaltenders on their roster heading into the 2024 Training Camp. Of the three, only Nikita Tolopilo has played AHL games, with Jonathan Lemieux and Ty Young yet to suit up for the AHL Canucks. While both Lemieux and Young are capable backups, having an experienced goaltender would be beneficial, especially with a young goaltending room in Abbotsford.

One of the other benefits of bringing in another goaltender is it allows Ty Young to develop in the ECHL. As of right now, Young would be the team's third-stringer, which would keep him on the bench for the majority of the season. With an additional goaltender in the mix, the organization could send Young to the Kalamazoo Wings to ensure he gets plenty of playing time this season. At 20 years old, not playing games could be detrimental to his development, which is why being a starter in the ECHL could be what is best for Young moving forward.

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Finding an experienced goaltender at this time of year is not easy. However, a few names are still available. Dustin Tokarski could be an option if he is released from his PTO with the Ottawa Senators, while Martin Jones remains an unrestricted free agent. Michael Hutchinson and Malcolm Subban are also some names to keep an eye on, as they both are currently without a team and played in the AHL last season.

Having depth at the goaltending position is crucial at the AHL level. With such a condensed schedule that features back-to-back almost every week, having an experienced goaltender who can provide not just strong play but leadership in the locker room could be the difference between having home ice in the first round and fighting for one of the final playoff spots. With the season just a week away, looking for another goaltender should be priority number one for Abbotsford Canucks GM Ryan Johnson.