Vancouver Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin announced that the club has signed defenseman Christian Felton to a one-year, entry-level contract. According to CapFriendly, the contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $950,000.
Felton attended Canucks development camp last year and had a handful of teams interested.
The 24-year-old registered three goals and four assists for seven points in 26 games this season with Merrimack College.
According to a report from Rick Dhaliwal, Felton has been out since February dealing with an upper-body injury, he is one week away from returning to the line up where he will suit up for the Canucks American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Abbotsford Canucks.
Felton spent the last four years in the NCAA, one year with Bentley Univeristy in the 2020-21 season, and the last three with Merrimack College. During his one year at Bentley, he appeared in 13 games with the Falcons before transferring to play for the Warriors. Throughout his three years with Merrimack, Felton registered seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points and 44 penalty minutes in 98 games.
Prior to his NCAA tenure, the Medina, Ohio product spent time in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). In 2018-19 he played for the Madison Capitols, appearing in eight games. The Capitols selected Felton No. 100 overall in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft. Following one season there, he went off to the BCHL and played for the Vernon Vipers, he tallied five goals and 15 points in 50 games.
Abbotsford ranks sixth in the Pacific Division with a 30-22-4-2 record and 66 points through 58 games. They sit tied with the Bakersfield Condors and are just two points back from the Ontario Reign and Colorado Eagles. The baby Canucks will play in back-to-back games Saturday and Sunday against the Henderson Silver Knights.
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