Canucks Goalie Nikita Tolopilo Steps Away for a Special Family Moment
It’s been quite an eventful stretch for Vancouver Canucks goalie prospect Nikita Tolopilo, and the latest development in his whirlwind season has nothing to do with what happened on the ice. The 25-year-old netminder has temporarily left the team to fly home as he and his wife prepare to welcome their first child. It’s a big moment for him personally, and the organization has fully supported his decision to step away during this special time.
Tolopilo’s season had already been busy before this news. He had just made his fourth-ever NHL start last week after being called up to help fill the gap left by both Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen being unavailable. Despite limited NHL experience, he handled himself well, especially given how stretched Vancouver’s goaltending depth has been lately. But when family calls, even a packed NHL schedule takes a back seat.
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The initial report on his departure came from Rick Dhaliwal, who also confirmed that Jiri Patera has been called up from Abbotsford to take Tolopilo’s spot for now. With Lankinen already back with the team, the expectation is that Patera will serve as the backup until Tolopilo returns.
Interestingly, Tolopilo is now the fourth Canuck this season to share exciting baby news. Lankinen welcomed a child in October, Kiefer Sherwood announced his family is expecting, and David Kämpf revealed similar news shortly after signing with Vancouver. So while the team has been dealing with a rough start to the year performance-wise, its players have been hitting major life milestones off the ice.
Tolopilo’s journey to the NHL hasn’t been a traditional one. He went undrafted and signed with the Canucks as an overseas free agent in 2023 after an outstanding season in the Swedish Hockey League, where he put up an impressive .924 save percentage over 45 games. That earned him a two-year entry-level contract, and since arriving in North America, he has spent most of his time developing in the AHL.
Last season marked his NHL debut, where he finished with a 1–1 record through two games. This season has followed a similar pattern: two games, one win and one loss, showing steady progress. In Abbotsford, he has essentially split duties with Patera, and once Demko is cleared to return, both are expected to head back to the AHL.
For now, though, Tolopilo’s focus is exactly where it should be — with his growing family. The Canucks will manage the crease until he’s back, but this brief pause in his career is one he’ll surely remember for the rest of his life.
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