The Vancouver Canucks organization has reinforced its goaltending depth, announcing the signing of goaltender Nikita Tolopilo to a two-year, two-way contract.
Tolopilo, a 25-year-old Belarusian netminder, spent the majority of the past season honing his craft with the Abbotsford Canucks, the team`s American Hockey League affiliate. He proved to be a key component in Abbotsford`s successful campaign, which culminated in an AHL championship. His stat line reflected a solid performance: a 20-14-2 record, a 2.66 goals-against average (GAA), and a .902 save percentage (SV%) across 36 games.
Beyond his AHL duties, Tolopilo also earned his first taste of National Hockey League action with Vancouver. While his NHL statistics in a brief sample size—a 1-1 record with a 2.15 GAA and an .885 SV%—might not immediately leap off the page compared to his AHL numbers, securing even a short stint in the top league is a significant step in a developing player`s career trajectory.
Originally joining the Canucks as an undrafted free agent signing in March 2023, Tolopilo`s re-signing signals continued confidence from the club in his potential. A two-way contract provides the Canucks with valuable roster flexibility, allowing them to move Tolopilo between Vancouver (NHL) and Abbotsford (AHL) as needed, without clearing waivers (under standard conditions). For the player, it guarantees a salary whether he plays in the NHL or AHL, providing a measure of financial security while he continues to develop within the organizational structure.
This agreement ensures that Tolopilo remains a part of the Canucks` goaltending future, adding another capable netminder to the organizational pipeline. While the path to becoming an established NHL starter is a challenging one, this new contract provides Tolopilo with the stability and opportunity to continue his development within a familiar system, aiming to build on his strong AHL performance and make a more lasting impression at the NHL level.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow