It wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret, but now it’s looking like reality.
According to the Associated Press, Chris Driedger is expected to be selected by Seattle and signed to a three-year contract worth $3.5 million annually.
All signs pointed to Driedger being a fit in Seattle after a regular season in Florida that earned league-wide attention. But with Sergei Bobrovsky’s unmoveable contract stuck in the Sunshine State long-term and Spencer Knight ready to go, there wasn’t any room for Driedger, who was definitely the better goaltender for the Panthers this season.
For as good as Driedger is, he only has 38 games under his belt over five years. Granted, he has a 21-9-4 record with four shutouts in that time, but it’s still a rather small sample size for someone who, just two years ago, was still splitting time in the AHL and ECHL. But at 27, Driedger, who was sent to become a UFA next week, has an opportunity to play a big role with a new club searching for an identity.
Now, the question is: who else does Seattle select in the crease?