Vancouver’s goaltending situation is built on tension, opportunity, and limited space. Nikita Tolopilo sits at the center of that squeeze, and his next step could shape both his own future and the Canucks’ longer-term plans.
A season that showed both flaws and upside
Tolopilo’s 2025-26 campaign was a constant shuffle between the AHL and the NHL, which made it hard for him to find a steady rhythm. He was asked to handle moving targets, inconsistent usage, and the pressure that comes with trying to prove himself in two leagues at once.
The raw numbers were uneven, but they still tell an important story. In the AHL, he posted a 3.07 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. In the NHL, the line was tougher: 3.61 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage.
- He appeared in 19 AHL games and 21 NHL games.
- He finished 14 starts with three or more goals allowed.
- He showed enough competitive flashes to remain part of the conversation.
That mix matters because Tolopilo was not simply drifting through a lost season. He had stretches where his play hinted at something more stable, especially when the opposition was strong and the workload was heavy.
The nights that kept him relevant
Late January gave Tolopilo his clearest proof of concept. He made three consecutive starts and allowed only four total goals across that stretch, even though the team in front of him did not provide much support.
One performance should have been remembered as his first career shutout. He stopped 32 shots in a 2-0 win and looked ready to earn that milestone, but a brief stint in concussion protocol forced a goalie change and shifted the shutout credit away from him.
He followed that with an even more eye-catching effort against Toronto on Jan. 31. Tolopilo stopped 39 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss and denied Auston Matthews on an overtime penalty shot, a moment that showed he could handle high-pressure situations.
The back half of the season was less forgiving. After another return to the AHL, he was brought back for good and played 11 more games from March through April, starting eight. Only one of those starts ended with fewer than two goals allowed, but he closed the year with a win over Anaheim on April 12 after turning aside 24 of 27 shots.
What Vancouver has to decide
The Canucks are not dealing with a simple backup question. They are trying to sort through three goaltenders with NHL value and very little room for all of them to stay in the same picture.
There are only a few realistic outcomes, and each one carries different consequences:
- Tolopilo gets traded: This is the cleanest path and probably the most likely one. He has enough NHL experience and enough usable tape to attract interest.
- All three goalies remain: This would create a crowded depth chart and make it harder to manage ice time in a sensible way.
- A veteran moves instead: Less likely, but still possible if Vancouver decides the younger timeline makes more sense.
Age is the biggest reason Tolopilo remains intriguing. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen are established veterans, while Tolopilo is 26 and fits a team trying to align its future with younger pieces. That makes him a logical fit alongside a prospect pipeline that needs clarity, not confusion.
What camp will determine
Training camp will not just be about competing for a roster spot. It will be about creating use. Tolopilo needs a strong September to improve his standing, whether that means forcing the Canucks to rethink their goalie mix or making himself more valuable in trade talks.
If he stays in Vancouver, the expectation is a rotation role with roughly 30 to 35 starts. If he is moved, that number could jump into the 40s depending on where he lands and how much help that team can provide.
What will not happen is a quiet assignment to the AHL. Vancouver is unlikely to expose him to waivers, so the organization will have to choose between keeping him on the NHL roster or moving him before that becomes a risk.
The most likely outcome
Tolopilo does not need to be the best goaltender on the roster to matter. He only needs to be the one whose timeline, age, and upside make the most sense when the Canucks finally make their decision.
That is why his camp matters so much. In a crowded crease, the goalie with the most to lose is often the one who can change the room the fastest.
