Canucks sign goaltender Zach Sawchenko to a one-year two-way contract

With Collin Delia signing in Winnipeg to a one-year one-way contract worth $775,000, the Canucks needed to look to the free agent pool to round out their depth chart in goal.

Sawchenko joins the Canucks organization following a three-year stint with the San Jose Sharks organization, mostly spent with their ECHL affiliate and a one-year stint with the Carolina Hurricanes organization as the leading starter for their AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves.

Though it remains to be seen who the Canucks elect to roll out as Thatcher Demko’s backup, the wealth of options now includes Spencer Martin, Arturs Silovs, Nikita Tolopilo, and the newly acquired Sawchenko.

At 6’1″, Sawchenko is on the smaller side among Ian Clark and Marko Torenius’ disciples, but his raw athleticism is what likely piqued their interest.

Sawchenko made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sawchenko came in for starter James Reimer, who was pulled after allowing 6 goals in the first period. The Calgary native made 20 saves on 21 shots, including the incredible sprawling glove stop on forward Drew O’Connor above.

Despite size concerns and pedestrian numbers at the AHL level through four seasons, there is hope that the Clark/Torenius tandem has found another Martin/Delia-like project who they can turn around to provide meaningful NHL games.