Acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins early in the season, defenseman Mark Friedman looks set to extend his tenure in British Columbia. The Vancouver Canucks have announced a one-year contract extension for Friedman worth $775K at the NHL level.
Initially brought in for depth, Friedman may see an increased role depending on the Canucks’ offseason moves. Vancouver recently secured defenseman Filip Hronek with an eight-year extension, but faces upcoming decisions on Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov, and Tyler Myers in free agency.
During the past season, Friedman played 23 games for the Canucks, contributing one assist while averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time per game.
He demonstrated solid defensive play and possession metrics, boasting a 50.3 Corsi For% and a 92.6% on-ice save percentage across all situations.
In addition to his NHL role, Friedman briefly joined Vancouver’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, on a conditioning loan in mid-January. During this stint, he recorded one goal and four points in four games.
Looking ahead, Friedman will continue as part of Vancouver’s defensive lineup for the 2024-25 NHL season, serving as one of five defensemen under contract.
General manager Patrik Allvin praised Friedman’s reliability and readiness to contribute whenever called upon, emphasizing his competitiveness for a regular roster spot in the upcoming season.
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