Braden Holtby figures heB次元官网网址檒l have no trouble fitting in with his new team.

The veteran netminder signed a two-year, US$8.6-million deal with Vancouver on Friday as the Canucks made a key change between the pipes on the opening day of free agency.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a guy who believes in hard work and competitiveness and a hard style of hockey. And you see a lot of the players on the Canucks that fit right into that mold,B次元官网网址� the former Washington Capital told reporters on a video call.

B次元官网网址淔rom an outsider looking in, I think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a great fit and IB次元官网网址檓 really excited to get after it.B次元官网网址�

Signing the five-time all-star means the Canucks are moving on from previous starter Jacob Markstrom, who also hit the free-agent market on Friday and signed a six-year deal with the Calgary Flames.

Holtby now becomes a teammate of 24-year-old goaltender Thatcher Demko, who nearly led the Canucks to a comeback victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference semifinal after Markstrom was injured in Game 4.

Each team can protect only one goalie in the Seattle expansion draft next year.

Heading into free agency, Holtby said he was looking for a city that was a good fit for his family and a team that had B次元官网网址渁n extremely good chance of winning.B次元官网网址�

Holtby, 31, has spent his entire decade-long career with the Capitals, winning a Stanley Cup with the club in 2017-18.

The native of Lloydminster, Sask., posted a .916 save percentage with a 2.53 goals-against average and 282-122-46 record during his time in Washington.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said in a release that the team is pleased to add an B次元官网网址渆xperienced and established goaltenderB次元官网网址� to the roster.

B次元官网网址淏raden is a Stanley Cup champion, brings leadership and has demonstrated the ability to rise to the occasion in big games. He will be an important part of our team,B次元官网网址� he said.

Holtby struggled last season, however, and his save percentage fell to .897 with a 3.11 goals-against average.

He admits that the season was B次元官网网址渁 bit of a struggle at timesB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渄idnB次元官网网址檛 go as planned.B次元官网网址�

During the COVID-19 hiatus, Holtby worked with Washington goalie coach Scott Murray to break down his game and find ways to address what wasnB次元官网网址檛 working.

B次元官网网址淲hen things came back, I felt as good as I have in a long time,B次元官网网址� he said.

In Vancouver, Holtby will share the workload with the up-and-coming Demko.

The American made a name for himself during the CanucksB次元官网网址� playoff run, stealing a pair of games against the Golden Knights to force a Game 7. Demko posted a 13-10-2 record with a .905 save percentage in regular-season play.

Working with a talented young goalie will be exciting, Holtby said.

B次元官网网址淵ou want to be able to push each other and have success that way and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 really exciting to me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧uts some young blood back into me, too. ItB次元官网网址檚 always exciting to work with the young guys, they see things a different way too and you can learn a lot from them.B次元官网网址�

Having two good goaltenders will be essential for any team looking to make a playoff push next year, Holtby added.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a condensed schedule, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a grind and I think youB次元官网网址檙e going to have two guys that are going to win games for you,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚n order to have success as a team and a chance to win a championship, you need to have two goalies who are going to get you there.B次元官网网址�

The Canucks also locked up Tyler Motte on Friday, signing the depth centre to a two-year deal worth $2.5 million.

Motte put up eight points (four goals, four assists) in 34 regular-season games with the Canucks last season. He also had a solid playoff run, adding five points (four goals, one assist) in 17 appearances.

B次元官网网址淭yler is a hard-working, physical player,B次元官网网址� Benning said. B次元官网网址淗e adds versatility to our lineup, reads the game well and plays an important matchup role for our group.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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