When Vancouver backup Johan Hedberg signed with the Dallas Stars this summer it appeared that former Centennial netminder Alex Auld would be a lock with the Canucks this fall.
That was until the Canucks dipped into the free agent market signing 28 year old Brent Johnson, who spent his last NHL season splitting time with the St. Louis Blues and the Phoenix Coyotes.
But Auld, who played parts of four seasons for the Centennials from 1997 to 2001 doesn't feel slighted by the Johnson signing.
"I welcome the competition," said the former Centennial, who has a $513,000 US, one-way contract.
"I didn't expect this job to be handed to me. I know I have to work for it. I'm coming in and fighting with everything I've got to land a job here," he told the Canadian press.
Auld rose to prominence when he was forced into service, ahead of Hedberg, when Cloutier was injured in the 2003 playoffs against the Calgary Flames. He had a 1-2 record and a 2.43 goals-against average in the three games he played.
Last year with the Moose he played 50 games and had a 25-18-4 record and 2.56 GAA. He played only two games during Manitoba's run to the Calder Cup semifinals when the Moose instead used veteran Wade Flaherty.
Dave Nonis, the Canucks general manager, said Flaherty's experience, not Auld's play, factored into the decision.
"I don't think it was a slight on Alex," Nonis told the Canadian Press. "It was more that Wade was playing very well."
However in this new world of salary caps, it may make more sense for the Canucks to keep Auld in Vancouver because Johnson signed a two way deal, meaning it would be cheaper for the Canucks to send him to Vancouver.
However Nonis insists the backup goalie decision will be based on performance, not contracts.
"If you have a one-way contract does it give you a bit of an edge? A little bit," he said.
"Alex is a very good goalie. I expect he's going to play in the NHL this year and there's a good chance he will play with us. We have seven (exhibition) games to play before the season starts. We'll see how it shakes out.”
With files from TSN.ca