According to Renaud Lavoie of RDS the Canucks have invited thirty-three year old checking center Steve Begin to training camp. He is the third veteran invitee so far – and based on the big hint Laurence Gillman dropped earlier this week – he may not be the last. Professional Try Out (or PTO) deals don’t count against the teams fifty contract limit. You can read the press-release announcing the PTO deal from canucks.nhl.com here.

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Begin tried out with the Predators last season and played two regular season games with Nashville, and 34 more with the Milwauke Admirals. He scored seven points in thirteen games with the Admirals in last years Calder Cup playoffs. In 2009-2010 with the Boston Bruins, Begin suited up for 77 games, playing nearly 13 minutes per game and contributing fifteen points. Looking briefly at his underlying numbers from behindthenet.ca – Begin was sheltered, skated with the teams checkers, posted a solid ZS/ZF ratio and finished pretty significantly below-water (he carried a -2.39 unbalanced fenwick number per game).

Begin brings experience, face-off ability and depth to the Canucks training camp roster. He’s been on the fringes of the NHL for most of his career, and has exactly 100 points in 488 NHL games, to go with 5 more points in 36 playoff games. Begin spoke of his opportunity with Renaud Lavoie, saying: "I know it’s my last chance, and I need to make the most of it, I really like the way the team is coached – and the system. It’s a good fit for me."





