The Canuck Way
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Vancouver Canucks: A look at the goaltending depth chart

By David Quadrelli

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 9: Thatcher Demko #35 of the Vancouver Canucks is switch out with teammate Jacob Markstrom #25 during their NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena March 9, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 9: Thatcher Demko #35 of the Vancouver Canucks is switch out with teammate Jacob Markstrom #25 during their NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena March 9, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Richard Bachman #32 of the Vancouver Canucks skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on November 13, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Richard Bachman #32 of the Vancouver Canucks skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on November 13, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Richard Bachman

Signed in the 2015-16 season, journeyman goaltender Richard Bachman has spent the majority of his time with the Canucks in the minors with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets. Not to be confused with Stephen King’s nom de plume, Bachman has played just seven games for the Canucks.

He appeared in one game for the Canucks this season, and ended up on highlight reels all over the country for the wrong reason. This turnover against the Minnesota Wild landed Bachman on misplays highlight packages for months.

Bachman has one year left on his deal, and will likely spend almost the entirety of next year with the Comets.

Marek Mazanec

Marek Mazanec was acquired from the New York Rangers and was essentially a band-aid for the terrible wound that was the Canucks goaltending situation of February. It was the reason we saw DiPietro get thrown to the Sharks, and in hopes of avoiding that situation again, general manager Jim Benning went out and improved his team’s goaltending depth with the acquisition of Mazanec.

Mazanec will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, and since the team recently acquired a new young goaltender in Kielly, Mazanec’s time with the Canucks organization may already have come to an end.

Michael Leighton

Much like Mazanec, Michael Leighton was signed to a pro-tryout contract just to add depth to the Canucks goaltending for this season. He spent his time with the Comets this season, appearing in 19 games. He had a save percentage of .901 and went 8-10-0.

Leighton will be 38 in less than a month, and as a result, his career may be coming to a close. Leighton was drafted in the sixth round of the 1999 draft — a year before the final goalie on this list was even born.

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