Vancouver enters the season with a crowded crease and very little room for ambiguity. Nikita Tolopilo sits at the center of that problem, and his next step could be the one that reshapes the entire depth chart.
Why This Situation Matters Now
The Canucks do not have the luxury of carrying extra uncertainty in net. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen already occupy major roster space, which means every practice rep and every preseason start carries added weight for Tolopilo.
That is what makes this case so interesting: he is not simply fighting for ice time, but for a place in the organization’s larger plan. At 26, he is old enough to be useful now and young enough to matter in a rebuild timeline.
For a team trying to sort out its long-term direction, that blend of age, experience, and trade value makes him far more than a spare option.
A Season That Revealed Both Risk and Upside
Tolopilo’s 2025-26 season was a constant shuffle between the AHL and NHL. He played 19 games in the minors and 21 at the top level, which meant very little stability and plenty of pressure to adapt on the fly.
The raw results were uneven, and the metrics reflected that reality:
- AHL line: 3.07 goals-against average and .897 save percentage
- NHL line: 3.61 goals-against average and .881 save percentage
- Starts with three or more goals allowed: 14
Those numbers do not suggest a finished product, but they also do not erase the useful stretches he showed against quality opponents. Vancouver saw enough to keep him in the conversation, which is often the first sign that a goaltender still has organizational value.
The Games That Kept Him Relevant
Late January was the stretch that gave Tolopilo his strongest argument. He started three straight games, allowed only four goals across that run, and still came away with just one win because the team in front of him struggled to support him.
One performance should have produced a shutout. He stopped 32 shots in a 2-0 victory and did everything required to earn the clean sheet, but a brief stint in concussion protocol forced a goalie change and shifted the shutout credit away from him.
Then came the Toronto game on Jan. 31, when he turned aside 39 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss and even denied Auston Matthews on an overtime penalty shot. Those are the kinds of moments that can change how a front office evaluates a player, especially when the player is still trying to prove he belongs.
The second half of the year was tougher. After a month back in the AHL, he returned to the NHL for good and appeared in 11 more games from March through April. He started eight of them, held the goals-against under two only once, and still finished with a final win over Anaheim on April 12 after stopping 24 of 27 shots.
What Vancouver Can Actually Do With Him
The roster math is simple even if the outcome is not. The Canucks cannot comfortably keep three goaltenders in a role that matters every night, but they also should not ignore a player who might have real value elsewhere.
Three outcomes make the most sense:
- He is traded, which would be the cleanest solution and likely the most realistic one.
- Vancouver keeps all three goalies, a workable but awkward setup that would slow development and complicate roster construction.
- A veteran moves instead, opening space for Tolopilo to stay and potentially grow into a larger role.
The trade path stands out because there should be interest. A goaltender with NHL games, a few highlight-reel stops, and a manageable age profile can still draw attention from teams looking for insurance or a partner in a tandem.
The veteran option is harder to imagine, but it fits the logic of a team that may prefer younger, more flexible assets over older commitments. If Vancouver believes Tolopilo and a future prospect can form part of the next wave, that changes the calculus quickly.
What He Needs From Training Camp
His camp assignment is straightforward: force the organization to make a decision it would rather avoid. He does not need to be flawless, but he does need to look dependable enough that management cannot dismiss him as the obvious odd man out.
A strong preseason could help him in two ways. First, it could pressure the Canucks to consider a move involving one of the veterans. Second, it could raise his trade value enough to give him a clearer path to meaningful NHL work somewhere else.
If he remains in Vancouver, his job stays the same: stay ready, stay sharp, and make every start count. If he is dealt, the market will likely reward him with more starts and a more defined role than he can expect in a three-goalie crowd.
What 2026-27 Could Look Like
The projection changes depending on where he opens the year. In Vancouver, he could settle into a rotation and collect roughly 30 to 35 starts if injuries or workload patterns create enough opportunity.
If he lands elsewhere, the number could climb into the 40- to 45-start range, especially if a team sees him as part of a tandem rather than a pure backup. That kind of move would not just change his schedule; it could change how the league views him.
One thing seems unlikely: a return to the AHL as a long-term answer. He has already shown enough NHL value that Vancouver would probably prefer to keep him on the main roster or move him before exposing him to waivers.
Bottom Line
Tolopilo does not need to be the best goaltender in the system to matter. He only needs to be the one whose timing fits the team’s current needs and whose future still carries value.
That is why his camp will be worth watching closely. In a crowded crease, the most important player is often the one with the clearest case for either staying or leaving.
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