Nikita Tolopilo clears waivers; will report to AHL Abbotsford Canucks

What happened

Nikita Tolopilo cleared NHL waivers and will report to the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks. The Vancouver Canucks placed him on waivers on Sunday, Sept. 27 — the final day teams could submit roster moves before the 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time roster deadline Monday. PuckPedia recorded a heavy waiver day with 71 players exposed.

Why the Canucks moved him

Tolopilo's recent track record

Tolopilo, 26, signed with Vancouver as an overseas free agent after a 2022–23 season in Sweden's Allsvenskan where he posted a.924 save percentage. Since joining the organization he has appeared in 90 AHL games for Abbotsford and 23 NHL games with Vancouver. Most of his NHL work came last season when he played 21 games and posted an.881 save percentage with a 3.61 goals-against average.

Why Meriläinen changed the crease picture

Meriläinen was a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. His recent numbers are uneven: a down year last season in which he posted a 3.51 GAA and.860 save percentage across 20 NHL appearances, but a two-year-old 12-game stretch that included a 1.99 GAA,.925 save percentage, an 8–3–1 record and three shutouts. Vancouver's front office appears to bet that Meriläinen's upside can be realized under their development plan.

Immediate implications

Tolopilo will begin the season in Abbotsford and aim to refine his play in the AHL. For Vancouver, the NHL crease to start the regular season is expected to be Kevin Lankinen and Leevi Meriläinen, with Thatcher Demko on injured reserve.

What to watch next

• Tolopilo's performance in Abbotsford: rebounds and save-percentage trends will determine if he's considered for a future recall.
• Meriläinen's early-season form: strong starts would validate the claim and further limit Tolopilo's NHL window.
• Demko's recovery timeline: any change to his status would immediately affect goaltending depth and recall needs.

Bottom line: Tolopilo cleared waivers and will start the year in the AHL while the Canucks pivot toward Lankinen and waiver-claimed Leevi Meriläinen to handle NHL net duties as Demko recovers.