SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 01: Chris Driedger #60 of the Seattle Kraken warms up prior to the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park on January 01, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) Getty
SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 8: Goaltender Chris Driedger #60 of the Florida Panthers looks on during second period action against the Boston Bruins at the Amerant Bank Arena on October 8, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) Getty
On Tuesday, the Vancouver Canucks kick off their regular season with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers .
After finishing last season at the bottom of the NHL standings, the Canucks will be aiming to start this campaign off with a victory.
Now, as Vancouver prepares for their season opener against the Oilers, they have officially parted ways with one of their training camp goalies.
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 01: Chris Driedger #60 of the Seattle Kraken warms up prior to the game against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Park on January 01, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
According to CHEK TV's Rick Dhaliwal , the Canucks have released goaltender Chris Driedger from his professional tryout (PTO) agreement with the club.
Driedger signed a PTO with the Canucks last month after spending the 2025-26 season in the KHL with Traktor Chelyabinsk. However, he has officially not earned a contract from Vancouver and will be looking to find a home elsewhere because of it.
The Canucks releasing Driedger from his PTO comes after they claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators .
GettySUNRISE, FL – OCTOBER 8: Goaltender Chris Driedger #60 of the Florida Panthers looks on during second period action against the Boston Bruins at the Amerant Bank Arena on October 8, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)
Driedger posted an 8-9-2 record, an .897 save percentage, and a 3.05 goals-against average in 23 KHL appearances last season. This was after he spent all of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, split between the Charlotte Checkers and the Manitoba Moose.
Driedger last played at the NHL level during the 2023-24 season with the Seattle Kraken . In two appearances that season for Seattle, he posted a 1-1-0 record, a .917 save percentage, and a 2.51 goals-against average.
Driedger had his most success in the NHL with the Florida Panthers . He had a .938 save percentage in 12 games for Florida in 2019-20 and a .927 save percentage in 23 games for the Panthers in 2020-21.
It will now be interesting to see where Driedger ends up signing after being released from his PTO by the Canucks.
This article was originally published on HEAVY
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