The Charlotte Checkers are bringing in some veteran goaltending depth, signing free agent Devan Dubnyk to an AHL professional tryout. The 35-year-old netminder played 22 games at the NHL level last season, but hadn’t found a contract so far in 2021-22.
It’s been quite a while since Dubnyk suited up in the AHL, last gracing the minor league during the 2013-14 season. Before those eight games with the Hamilton Bulldogs, it was way back in 2009-10 when he played a full season with the Springfield Falcons. In nearly 550 regular-season NHL games, Dubnyk has a 253-206-54 record while posting a .914 save percentage. A finalist for the Vezina Trophy in 2015, he has been ineffective the last two seasons in the NHL.
For the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche last year, Dubnyk posted an .895 save percentage in those 22 appearances. This PTO will help the Checkers cover the goaltending position while Joey Daccord is recalled to the Seattle Kraken, though it’s not clear how long it will last. It could be turned into an AHL contract, or perhaps the veteran goaltender is hoping to showcase enough to land an NHL deal somewhere in the league. Either way, he’s back on the ice at the professional level for the time being.
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