Vancouver Canucks gives Owen Nolan, Todd Fedoruk opportunity with tryout contracts –NHL offseason Update
Finding replacements for injured centre player, Ryan Kesler, who is out due to a hip surgery and Mason Raymond, out with a fractured vertebrae, Vancouver Canucks signed free agent veterans, Owen Nolan and Todd Fedoruk, to professional tryout contracts, which
would give them a chance to earn their position on the roster, if they are able to impress the Vancouver management.
Owen Nolan, a former first-round, first overall pick during the 1990 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft by the then Quebec Nordiques, was one of the most dominant players in the league at one point in time.
After a minor slump during his last years in the NHL, Nolan went out to Switzerland a played a season with Zurich in the Swiss league.
Now hoping for a comeback in the North American league, the 39-year-old who hails from Belfast, United Kingdom, boasting an NHL career of 1,200 games and 885 points (422 goals, 463 assists) will have to give it his all to secure a spot with a team like Vancouver.
“I don’t want to say I’m happy that opportunity is there, you want those guys to be healthy, especially if I’m going to be part of that team”, said Nolan, reached at his off-season home in San Jose. “But there is an opportunity there and I’m going to give
it everything I have to take a job”.
Todd Fedoruk will also be looking to make a comeback in the major league after Tampa Bay Lightning bought out his remaining portion of the contract immediately after ending the 2009-2010 regular season.
The 32-year-old veteran left winger was selected as 164th overall pick during round-seven of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by Philadelphia Flyers, and up until now has only had 23 points in his highest scoring season.
Vancouver is still confident that they can make a difference.
“Both players provide intriguing options — they’re different, but they provide similar attributes in that they are hard-nosed physical players and have the potential to add elements to our hockey team”, said Canucks' assistant general manager, Laurence Gilman.
Nevertheless, Vancouver has added that extra attacking depth to their roster, which can always come in handy during emergency situations.
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