Vancouver Canucks sign college defenceman Christian Felton to entry-level contract

The Vancouver Canucks have signed Merrimack College defenceman Christian Felton to a one-year, entry-level contract, the club announced Thursday evening.

Felton, 24, racked up seven points (three goals, four assists) in 26 games with the Warriors in the 2023–24 season. The undrafted 6’1″ right-handed defender spent the final three years of his college career at Merrimack after playing his freshman year at Bentley University.

The Canucks initially invited Felton to their annual summer development camp in 2023. His college career ended on Wednesday as Merrimack fell 4-0 to Northeastern University in the first round of the Hockey East men’s tournament.

“We are happy to have Christian join our organization,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. “We brought him into our development camp last summer and have kept a close eye on his progress. We look forward to working with him and helping Christian adjust to things as he starts his pro hockey career.”

Felton hails from Medina, Ohio but is familiar with British Columbia, having spent a year with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers before heading to college. He scored 15 points in 50 games with the Vipers in 2019–20.

After being used sparingly in his one year at Bentley, Felton was thrust into a larger role upon arriving at Merrimack in 2021. He skated in 85 games over his three seasons with the Warriors, collecting seven goals and 17 points.

CanucksArmy prospect guru Dave Hall described Felton on Thursday night as “a right-shot defensive defender who led Merrimack with 55 blocks. He has ties to BC with a year with the Vernon Vipers.”

Having just turned 24 in February, Felton will likely begin his professional career as one of the less battle-tested members of a relatively experienced Abbotsford Canucks defensive group. He should compete for minutes in the AHL with the likes of Matt Irwin, Akito Hirose, Filip Johansson, Cole McWard, Jett Woo, and the newly assigned Elias Pettersson. Abbotsford is on the fringes of the AHL playoff picture with a 30-22-6 record and 66 points in 58 games.

Both the Vancouver and Abbotsford Canucks are stocked with defenders. The NHL club currently leads the Pacific Division and ranks second in the league with a 42-17-8 record and 92 points in 67 games this season.