Vancouver Canucks sign goalie Chris Driedger to professional tryout contract

The Vancouver Canucks have bolstered their goaltending depth by signing Chris Driedger to a professional tryout contract (PTO). The NHL club announced the move on Thursday, adding the 32-year-old netminder to their roster for evaluation.

Driedger spent the previous season with Traktor Chelyabinsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). During his time in Russia, he recorded an 8-9-2 win-loss-tie record, with a 3.05 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. He also registered one shutout.

A native of Winnipeg, the six-foot-four, 210-pound goaltender has prior NHL experience, having played in 67 regular-season games for the Ottawa Senators, Florida Panthers, and Seattle Kraken. His NHL career statistics include a 31-24-5 record, a 2.45 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage, and five shutouts.

Beyond his NHL and KHL stints, Driedger has also competed in 217 American Hockey League games across various teams, including the Binghamton/Belleville Senators, Springfield Thunderbirds, Coachella Valley Firebirds, Charlotte Checkers, and Manitoba Moose. In the AHL, he amassed a 106-78-24 record with a 2.74 goals-against average, a .910 save percentage, and eight shutouts.

In a separate announcement, the Canucks also revealed the hiring of Sean Finn as an amateur scout. Finn brings seven seasons of experience from the KHL to his new role with the Vancouver organization.