The Vancouver crease has become a real decision point, and Nikita Tolopilo sits right at the center of it. A young goaltender with NHL looks already on his résumé, he may end up shaping how the club handles its entire goalie depth chart in 2026-27.
Vancouver does not have room for endless patience in net. Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen bring established value, but Tolopilo’s age, usage, and upside make him the wild card that could change the plan.
A Season That Kept Moving
Tolopilo’s 2025-26 campaign never settled into one clean role. He split time between the AHL and NHL, moved up and down the ladder, and spent much of the year proving he could handle sudden pressure.
The raw results were uneven, but the workload was real. In the AHL, he posted a 3.07 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. In the NHL, those numbers slipped to a 3.61 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage.
He also had 14 starts in which he allowed at least three goals, which shows how often the environment around him became difficult. That matters, because goalie evaluation is never only about the goalie.
The Games That Still Stand Out
Even in a choppy year, Tolopilo had a few stretches that reminded the organization why he remains relevant. Late January offered his best run, with three straight starts and only four total goals allowed.
One outing should have produced his first NHL shutout. He stopped 32 shots in a 2-0 win, but a brief concussion-protocol interruption forced a goalie change and removed the shutout from his line.
He followed that up with a strong effort against Toronto on Jan. 31, turning away 39 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss and denying Auston Matthews on a penalty shot in overtime. That kind of moment keeps a goalie on the radar even when the box score does not fully cooperate.
The back half of the season was tougher. After another trip to the AHL, he returned to Vancouver for good and played 11 more NHL games, including eight starts. He finished with a 24-save win over Anaheim on April 12, which gave the year a better ending than it might have had.
How the Crease Could Shake Out
There are only a few realistic paths forward, and none of them are subtle. The simplest outcome is a trade, because Vancouver has more NHL-caliber goaltenders than it has room to carry.
A three-goalie setup is possible, but it is rarely clean. It can drain starts, keep everyone out of rhythm, and force the coaching staff to sacrifice depth elsewhere on the roster.
The least likely but most intriguing outcome is a move involving Demko or Lankinen. That would be the biggest shakeup, but it also reflects the awkward fit of having veteran netminders on a team that still needs to think about the future.
Tolopilo fits the timeline better than the two veterans do. At 26, he lines up more naturally with a retooling club and with the next wave of young talent behind him.
What He Needs From Camp
Training camp will not be about comfort. It will be about forcing a clear answer in a situation that already feels crowded.
- Arrive sharp enough to compete for every available start.
- Show that his best NHL moments were not a fluke.
- Make the organization believe he has trade value if he is not the long-term answer in Vancouver.
If he performs well, the Canucks have to make a harder decision about the veteran group. If he does not, he still needs to stay valuable enough that another team sees him as a usable goalie, not just an extra body.
The Most Likely 2026-27 Outcome
The cleanest projection is that Tolopilo either opens the season in Vancouver or is dealt before opening night. A return to the AHL feels unlikely unless the roster picture changes in a major way.
If he stays, a rotation of roughly 30 to 35 starts is a reasonable expectation. That workload would not guarantee better numbers, but a stronger defensive structure in front of him could help.
If he is traded, his role could expand quickly into the 40-plus start range. A team seeking a partner goalie would be buying actual games, not just insurance.
Why His Case Matters
Tolopilo is not the safest option in the crease, but he may be the most useful one for Vancouver’s timeline. He is old enough to help now, young enough to matter later, and experienced enough to avoid being treated like a pure project.
That combination gives him use. The Canucks may not be able to keep everyone, and his camp could decide whether he stays part of the solution or becomes an asset in a different sweater.
For Vancouver, the next move in goal may not be about who is best today. It may be about who fits best over the next three seasons.