The Vancouver Canucks recently gave young netminder Michael DiPietro and his agent Darren Ferris permission to seek a trade, and Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV reports that one source believes that there is interest and a deal that “could make sense” for the Canucks.
DiPietro, 23, was a third-round pick of the Canucks in 2017 and quickly became a top goaltending prospect, despite his relatively small stature. He was included as the third goaltender for Canada at the 2018 World Championship before ever playing professional hockey and earned his first NHL minutes while still playing in the OHL as an emergency call-up.
It was his performance at the 2019 World Juniors that vaulted him to “goaltender of the future” status though, as Canucks fans got to see him dominate to the tune of a .952 save percentage. He would join the AHL affiliate the following year and put up decent numbers, but now a few years later and his path to NHL relevance is basically completely blocked.
With Thatcher Demko entrenched as the Vancouver starter, Spencer Martin signed to a cheap deal as the backup, and Collin Delia in place as a viable third-string option, it’s hard to see DiPietro ever getting the net for the Canucks. Thus the trade request and search, though general manager Patrik Allvin is not under much pressure to make a deal.
Not only is he under contract for the upcoming season but DiPietro is also still waiver-exempt this year, meaning he can be sent down without issue. It’s a tough spot for a netminder who hasn’t quite taken the step forward that many expected, and posted just a .901 save percentage in 34 appearances for Abbotsford last season. There is obviously potential there but at this point in the summer, most teams already have their NHL and AHL tandems in place. Expending an asset to acquire DiPietro might seem unnecessary, when he may well go unqualified by the Canucks next summer, if he’s still with the organization.
Montreal would really like this guy…
Golden knights need. Goalie !!
Vegas makes too much sense to not try to work something out
Ullmark for him Bruins should do it in a heartbeat
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You forgot the [/SARCASM] tag, case7187!
Doesn’t make sense for the Bruins, or Ullmark.
Yeah, but you guys are missing something: you’re presuming that he can play at a NHL level. And there’s zero evidence that’s the case. Montreal would really like this guy? Cayden Primeau’s *outperformed* him at the AHL level. Vegas needs him? Isaiah Saville, Jiri Patera AND Dylan Ferguson *outperformed* him (and pretty wildly) at the AHL level.
Dipietro played decently for Utica in 2020, and has all of three NHL games under his belt. (Got shelled in them too.) I’d give up a seventh rounder for him right now, and that’s the limit, because despite what his ego might be saying, he hasn’t shown enough to be more than an AHL backup right now.
Hes still a better option than anyone else on the market right now. I’d bet on the upside of him than busted James Reimer.
Reimer have an above .900% save percentage with an awful defensive group in front of him. This coming from a Sharks fan….He’s worth at least a 3rd….Second maybe pushing it
What “upside?” What about this guy’s play in the pros gives you the slightest notion that there IS an “upside?” Show me where this guy has outplayed some of the other goalies out there.
he missed a year due to poor asset management, educate yourself you sound…..
Leafs will snag him. They need a steady flow of goalie options in Leaf-land! LOL