On the one hand, I agree they likely won't play in the NHL.
On the other hand, you need AHL defencemen as well and the Canucks have plenty of empty contract spaces for next year.
It's a 100% buriable contract that didn't cost a single asset to sign.
NCAA guys are always fun to gamble on, but Fenton doesn't look like he'll be anything great. Still, he is young; there are worse ways to use your 50 contract spots.
theyre are plenty of unsigned free agents coming from the US and the major junior with better stats than this. Covid made scouting very tough, so there were lots of good players who got missed. but I dont think this guy was one.