The Vancouver Canucks have updated their roster by trading goaltender Nikita Tropilo and defenseman Elias Pettersson to the Abbotsford Canucks. According to NHL regulations, both players are required to participate in at least one AHL game before they can be called up as backups.
Tropilo has played in five games for Abbotsford this season, holding a 1-3-1 record with a .901 save percentage. Recently, he started two matches for Vancouver but had to leave early when his wife went into labor. Meanwhile, Pettersson, who has been playing in the NHL for the entire season, has scored two goals in 24 games but missed the last two games against the Canucks due to healthy scratches. In the AHL, Pettersson has accumulated 15 points and 44 penalty minutes over 46 games.
Abbotsford is set to face the Calgary Wranglers on Wednesday at 7:00 PM PT at the newly renamed Rogers Forum. The AHL Canucks have struggled this season, currently positioned 31st in the league with a record of 4 wins, 14 losses, 1 tie, and 2 overtime losses.
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Fan Take: This roster move is significant for fans because it highlights the Canucks’ strategy to strengthen their AHL team while managing player development. The mandated AHL game before call-ups could ensure players gain valuable ice time, benefiting both the AHL affiliate and the NHL team in the long run.
