Alongside Casey DeSmith, who won't be returning per Allvin, Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Zach Sawchenko has announced he'll test the open market as a UFA starting at 12 pm ET on Monday, July 1st, as reported by Rick Dhaliwal.
Dhaliwal also suggested that the Canucks may seek to acquire a veteran goaltender for the 2024-25 season, although it remains uncertain whether this would be for the NHL team in Vancouver or for Abbotsford.
The Canucks now have three goaltenders under contract for the 2024-25 season: Thatcher Demko, Nikita Tolopilo, and Ty Young. Arturs Silovs is set to become a restricted free agent but is expected to stay with the team and sign a new contract soon.
Last summer, Sawchenko, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks but played only six AHL games with Abbotsford in the regular season. He posted a 4-1-0 record with a 2.12 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in those appearances. During the Stanley Cup Playoffs, injuries forced the Canucks to rely on Silovs as their starter and Tolopilo as backup for several games, leaving Sawchenko as the primary option for Abbotsford in the Calder Cup Playoffs. In six postseason games, he had a 2-4 record with a 2.96 goals-against average and an .898 save percentage.
It remains to be seen what Allvin has planned in the coming days and weeks regarding the goaltending market. While Silovs appears ready to serve as a full-time NHL backup, the Canucks might consider keeping him in the AHL for regular playing time. This could lead them to explore options for a backup goaltender behind Thatcher Demko.
