It’s been said that “We are all Canucks.” But another slogan that holds true is “Once a Canuck, always a Canuck.”
Sure, there are some notable exceptions to that rule, and we don’t need to get into them there. But, for the most part, once someone has played for the Vancouver Canucks, fans tend to hold a special place in their heart for them forever thereafter. Maybe that doesn’t extend to actively cheering for that player when they play against the Canucks, but it does generally lead to cheering for them in all other circumstances.
At the very least, it’s always compelling to keep track of former Canucks, and play a little annual game of “where are they now?”
Dozens of former Canucks changed addresses this past offseason, changing teams via free agency and trade. Those transactions are all easy enough to track online. A little less difficult to keep hold of are the various former Canucks who haven’t officially changed addresses yet – but who would really like to if all goes in their favour.
We’re talking, of course, about former Canucks currently attending various training camps on professional tryouts (PTO).
Below, you’ll find a list of nine former Canucks who are right now attending NHL camps on PTOs and some commentary on how likely it is they turn that PTO into a new contract – and a new home.
Tanner Pearson, Vegas Golden Knights(221 games played in Vancouver)
Pearson is by far the longest-tenured Canuck up for a PTO this year. He battled back from repeated hand surgeries to play 54 games for the Montreal Canadiens last year, albeit with pretty poor results – just five goals and 13 total points.
But at just 32, Pearson isn’t ancient yet, and perhaps a full summer of healthy training can put him back on track. In Vegas, he’s got at least 11 clear-cut NHL forwards ahead of him, but after that, it’s a bit of a mix of fringe veterans and prospects attempting to push through. With a good enough camp, Pearson could very well land himself both a contract and a spot on the opening night roster, especially given that he’d presumably sign at league minimum and that Vegas needs all the cap maneuverability that they can get.
And given his circumstances, this is definitely one former Canuck worth cheering for to turn a PTO into a fresh start.
Sam Gagner, Carolina Hurricanes(81 games played in Vancouver)
Never count out Sam Gagner. At the ripe age of 35, there have been at least a couple of points over the last few years at which most folks considered him ‘done.’ But Gager has held on all the same. Last year, he went into Edmonton camp on a PTO and not only earned himself a contract but got himself into 28 games for the eventual Stanley Cup Finalists – and notched ten points, which ain’t bad.
This time around, Gagner is trying to crack the Carolina Hurricanes. In seasons past, that would have sounded like an impossible task, but the Hurricanes lost a lot of players this past offseason and recently learned that forward Jesper Fast will spend considerable time on LTIR.
That puts Gagner into a battle with a few other fringe forwards, like Brendan Lemieux, Tyson Jost, and Eric Robinson, along with some upcoming prospects like Gleb Trikozov. For someone as used to fighting against the odds as Gagner, that honestly sounds like easy money. Expect him to sign a contract and play for Carolina this year. It’s just what he does.
Alex Chiasson, Detroit Red Wings(67 games played in Vancouver)
Another player that should never be counted out is Alex Chiasson. He’s younger than Gagner at 33 but has been playing the PTO game even longer. Chiasson became a Canuck via PTO back in 2021. Then he did the same in Detroit in 2022/23, working his way up from an AHL deal to get into 20 games with the Red Wings.
But then Chiasson went to the Boston Bruins on a PTO last year and was unsuccessful in landing a contract. Ultimately, after being cut by the Bruins, Chiasson chose not to play professional hockey at all in 2023/24.
But he’s back now. Making a Detroit roster that is just loaded with burgeoning young talent would seem to be Chiasson’s greatest test yet – especially after a full year off. But stranger things have happened, and he’s certainly beaten the odds before.
Brad Hunt, Washington Capitals(50 games played in Vancouver)
Okay, we’d feel repetitive if we said for a third time that “another player you should never count out is Brad Hunt.” But, dang, that really does seem to be the theme here.
Hunt signed in Vancouver as someone not expected to be an everyday player, and he wound up playing a lot. He then parlayed that into a two-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He played 47 games for them in 2022/23 but spent the entirety of 2023/24 in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles.
Now, he’s joined the Washington organization on an AHL deal, and like most vets signed to an AHL deal, he’s getting a shot at a PTO in camp.
Will he turn that into an NHL deal? Honestly, probably not. The Capitals already have eight NHL defenders signed and on their roster, a couple of AHL vets on NHL deals in Chase Priskie and Dylan McIlrath, and a couple of prospects ready to move up, like Vincent Iorio.
Chances are good that Hunt stays on his AHL contract.
Travis Dermott, Edmonton Oilers(28 games played in Vancouver)
Dermott’s on-ice time in Vancouver was short, but he’s still remembered relatively fondly. After a middling season with the Arizona Coyotes, Dermott is attempting to land a contract with the defending Western Conference Champs…and he actually might have a better shot than most might assume.
The Edmonton Oilers are simply low on quality defenders. They’ve got a clear top-three of Mattias Ekholm, Evan Bouchard, and Darnell Nurse, but behind them comes a questionable collection that includes Brett Kulak, Josh Brown, Ty Emberson, and Troy Stecher.
With all due love and respect to Stecher, that’s a group that Dermott can absolutely beat out for a job with a good enough training camp. And with his overall reputation as one of hockey’s unmitigated good guys, he’s probably someone worth rooting for.
Ashton Sautner, Winnipeg Jets(23 games played in Vancouver)
Sautner was once a real organizational presence in Vancouver. He started out with the Utica Comets in 2015/16 and went on to play six seasons there and then one more for the Abbotsford Canucks. He got chances with the Big Canucks in between, but Sautner mostly settled into a role as a trusted AHL veteran and leader.
Now, he’s that for the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose. His days of NHL contracts are probably behind him, but Sautner still plays a valued role all the same.
Aidan McDonough, Florida Panthers(6 games played in Vancouver)
McDonough went from a highly-touted prospect to, well, not in a pretty short amount of time. He failed to impress on a late-season six-game audition with the Canucks in 2022/23 and then never really got up to speed in Abbotsford last year, ending his rookie AHL campaign with 11 goals and 19 points in 58 games.
That wasn’t enough to keep him around, but it was enough to catch the attention of the defending Cup Champions in Florida. He’ll most likely spend the entire season with their AHL club, and his chances of cracking an NHL roster that deep seems astronomical. But, perhaps with a good enough showing at camp and then in the minors, McDonough could eventually earn himself another NHL deal.
Madison Bowey, New York Rangers(2 games played in Vancouver)
This author could have sworn that Bowey played more than two games for the Canucks. Perhaps that’s because he blends with many other questionable defenders from that same era.
In any case, Bowey’s NHL days are firmly behind him. After a 2023/24 campaign split between three KHL franchises, he’s just hoping to get back to North American pro hockey with an AHL contract. He doesn’t have any contract right now, but he’s hoping this PTO will land him in Hartford, at least.
Vincent Arseneau, Montreal Canadiens(77 games played in Abbotsford)
Okay, okay. “Big Vinny” never played for Vancouver, but he was a very popular member of the Utica Comets and then Abbotsford Canucks, so he gets a mention here. These days, Arseneau throws hands for the Laval Rocket, but there’s always the chance that the Canadiens dress him for some added protection in a preseason game or two.
Also Of Interest
They’re not former Canucks, but it’s worth noting that Dakota Joshua’s younger brother Jagger Joshua and Todd Bertuzzi’s son Tag Bertuzzi are both on PTOs this preseason. Joshua is signed to an AHL contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and will attend Penguins camp. Bertuzzi is signed with the Utica Comets and will attend Devils camp.
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