The Manny Malhotra comeback has begun, albeit at a lower level of hockey than the unrestricted free agent might have hoped.
The former Vancouver Canucks centre signed a 25-game professional tryout contract with the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Malhotra, 33, refused to retire after the Canucks placed him on injured reserve in February and allowed his contract to expire at the end of this season. Despite dealing with vision problems after being struck with a puck in the eye in 2011, the two-way forward continued to train in the off-season with hopes of landing with another NHL club.
Fearing for the long-term health of Malhotra, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis removed him from his team’s lineup after he had played just nine games in 2013.
Malhotra has posted 278 points and 421 penalty minutes in 864 career NHL games. The New York Rangers’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in 1998, Malhotra has also played for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks.
