VANCOUVER, BC – The Vancouver Canucks have secured the services of goaltender Nikita Tolopilo, announcing today the signing of a two-year, two-way contract with the 25-year-old netminder.
The agreement signals the organization`s commitment to developing the Belarusian native, who has shown considerable promise since joining the club as an undrafted free agent in March 2023.
Tolopilo spent the majority of the past season with the Abbotsford Canucks, the team`s American Hockey League affiliate. He played a significant role in their successful campaign, backstopping them to an AHL championship. His performance included a solid 20-14-2 record across 36 appearances, posting a 2.66 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. These numbers, while not eye-popping, were effective enough within the team`s structure to contribute to their title run.
Adding to his development curve, Tolopilo also earned his first taste of National Hockey League action during the season. In a brief two-game call-up with Vancouver, he registered a 1-1 record. The limited sample size showed a 2.15 GAA and an .885 save percentage. Naturally, two games are hardly enough to make sweeping judgments about NHL readiness, but getting into NHL game action is a crucial step for any prospect.
The nature of the contract, a two-year, two-way deal, provides essential flexibility for the Canucks organization. A two-way contract means Tolopilo can be moved between the NHL roster and the AHL roster in Abbotsford without being subject to waivers, depending on the team`s needs, performance requirements, and potential injury situations. For a player at Tolopilo`s stage, this type of deal is standard and logical. It guarantees him employment and opportunity within the organization for two more seasons, while allowing the team to manage their goaltending assets efficiently across both leagues.
While the specific financial details of the contract were not disclosed – standard practice unless you`re a superstar, it seems – the term of the deal indicates the Canucks see Tolopilo as a valuable piece of their goaltending pipeline for the immediate future. He will likely continue to play a prominent role in Abbotsford, pushing for opportunities in Vancouver as his development progresses and opportunities arise.
This signing quietly reinforces the Canucks` goaltending depth chart, ensuring they have options ready to step up when required. For Tolopilo, it`s confirmation that his efforts in the AHL championship season did not go unnoticed, providing a clear path and stability for the next two years as he aims to become a full-time NHL goaltender.
