Canucks sign DeKeyser to PTO
The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Danny DeKeyser to a professional tryout on Friday.
DeKeyeser spent the last decade of his career with the Detroit Red Wings, primarily deployed in a top-four role. He recorded zero goals and 11 assists in 59 games in 2021-22 while averaging 18:30 of ice time per contest. The analytics haven't been kind to DeKeyeser over the last few years.
Still, it's not out of the question the 6-foot-3 32-year-old could earn a bottom-pairing role with the Canucks. Their blue line currently projects as follows:
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Quinn Hughes | Luke Schenn |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Tyler Myers |
| Travis Dermott | Kyle Burroughs |
Vancouver also has Tucker Poolman under contract for the next three years, but the defenseman's health is a question mark after missing significant time last season with a head injury. Unproven commodities like Jack Rathbone, Noah Juulsen, Brady Keeper, and Filip Johansson round out the team's depth.
DeKeyser is a veteran of 547 NHL games.