The Vancouver Canucks made a roster move Sunday morning, reassigning defenceman Mark Friedman to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), general manager Patrik Allvin announced.
Friedman, 29, did not play in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Washington Capitals but had appeared in the team’s prior two games against the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres. In five NHL games this season, Friedman has yet to record a point and carries a minus-four rating.
Signed to a one-year extension at a league-minimum cap hit of $775,000 during the offseason, Friedman has served as a depth option for Vancouver. He has also spent time in Abbotsford, where he has posted six points (one goal, five assists) in 20 games so far this year. Last season, Friedman registered one assist over 23 NHL appearances with the Canucks.
With Friedman not dressed, Vancouver turned to another blue-line option in Saturday’s win. Defenceman Elias Pettersson made his NHL debut, adding a unique twist as he joined forward Elias Pettersson in the lineup. The game marked only the second time in NHL history that two players with the same name on the same team played in the same game.
The 19-year-old defenceman, drafted 80th overall by Vancouver in 2022, logged 10:37 of ice time in his debut performance at Rogers Arena. Pettersson, who has spent the season with the Abbotsford Canucks, earned his call-up after a strong start in the AHL, where he tallied 13 points in 36 games.
Friedman will look to continue his season in Abbotsford as Vancouver maintains depth in its defensive corps. Meanwhile, trade rumours continue to swirl around key Canucks forwards J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson. If such moves materialize, the Canucks could see a flurry of roster changes in the coming weeks, possibly reshaping the team’s depth chart.
At least for now, both Elias Petterssons will stay put in this Vancouver Canucks’ lineup.