The goal of depth of the Vancouver Canucks became a bit thinner with the trade of Arturs Silovs on the Pittsburgh Penguins, but with the addition of Alexei Medvedev in the NHL design of 2025, they even broke. In general, even without the services of Silovs-Die would probably have been claimed from a distance if he was not traded, they still have a strong group of goalkeepers to draw on the 2025-26 season. That said, let’s take a deep dive in the entire pipeline.
Canuck’s meaning depth
Thatcher Demko – Starter
Thatcher Demko will be the starter of the Canucks for the next four seasons, thanks to a three -year extension that he signed at the beginning of July. His agent, Jordan Neumann, says Demko has completely recovered From the injuries he suffered last season and not rehabiling in the low season for the first time in a long time.
“He is 100 percent. I was visiting him there two weeks ago and he has already started skating as part of his program out of the season that he has never really done this early. He feels great. He is in no way limited.
It is the first summer in a long time where he does not do any rehabilitation. It gives him enormous optimism and excitement in the future, which is another reason why he really felt at ease to do a shorter term. “
That is good news for the Canucks, because at best the 29-year-old is a Vezina-Kaliber goalkeeper who can steal games. His health is clearly still a concern, given the amount of time he has missed in the past two seasons, but with the team that Kevin Lankinen signs to support him in the coming four seasons, the coaching staff should be able to split the workload and keep him on the ice instead of the medical room.
Kevin Lankinen – Back -Up
Speaking of Lankinen, if not for him, the Canucks would probably have finished closer to the bottom of the NHL instead of a few victories of the play -off Cutoff line. He was sometimes brilliant in the fold, especially early in the season when Demko was not available and recovered from the rare Popliteus muscle injury. His best stretch came in November and early December when he was 10 straight victories on the road and not just established a franchise record, But an NHL record. As the season progressed, he started to struggle with the weight of a number one goalkeeper, which was understandable, given that he had never started more than 37 games in his career (by the end of the season he had started a career-high 49 competitions and appeared in 51).
Nevertheless, Lankinen ended with a solid 25-15-10 record in addition to a career tray 2.62 goals-to-average (GAA), .902 SAVE percentage (SV%) and four shutouts. He also represented Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but only came in two games and ended with a 4.83 GAA EN .811 SV%. This season, assuming Demko remains healthy, his workload must fall back on the range of 25-30, although if the Canucks use a 1a/1B platoon system (what they should), it could be up to 40.
Nikita Tolopilo – AHL Starter
With Silovs now a penguin, Nikita Tolopilo becomes the actual starter in Abbotsford. Last season he split the tasks in the fold with Silovs and appeared in a career-high 36 competitions, in addition to a 2.66 GAA, .902 SV% and four shutouts. He ended with a 20-14-2 record in the American Hockey League (AHL) and made his NHL debut on April 14 Against the San Jose Sharks, who takes his first victory. He also made a relief in the next match against the Vegas Golden Knights, but was unfortunately tagged with the loss after allowing two goals on 10 shots.
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The 6-foot-6 Belarus will get the reins for the first time in its professional career and will be the first call option such as Demko or Lankinen this season with an injury. He was again signed for a two -year contract At the beginning of July.
Jiri Patera – Depth
Jiri Patera is located in the last year of a two-year contract that he signed with the Canucks last summer, and will fight against Ty Young for the backup area behind Tolopilo. He only appeared in seven games last season a knee injury on November 6 Against the Ontario Reign, and never returned to the line -up, even when he was healthy in April. He was decent in his start before the injury and placed a 2.79 GAA EN .899 SV%, and given his experience in the AHL, he might have a bit of a leg on Young on his way to the training camp.
Ty Young – Depth
After parts of three seasons in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince George Cougars, Young moved to the Pro competitions last season and split his time between Kalamazoo and Abbotsford. He made his AHL debut on 19 February against the San Diego-Meeuwen and finally stayed in the lower mainland until March 29. He appeared in 11 games and posted an impressive 8-3-0 record next to a 2.72 GAA EN .904 SV%. The highlight of his time in the AHL came on March 12, when he made 41 Saves in a 2-1 win over the Condors of Bakersfield. He will be difficult to secure a place in the AHL this season with the experience of Patera that stands in the way of him, but given his strong performance during that piece in February and March, he could surprise and push Patera in the depth card.
Aku Koskenvuo – Depth
AKU Koskenvuo will be pro this season with the Kalamazoo Wings of Abbotsford Canucks. He signed his entry -level contract in March after three seasons in the NCAA with Harvard University, and will probably play in the Echl in a tandem with Young. Selected 137th General by the Canucks in 2021, the Espoo, Finland Native had a decent collegial career and ended with a 2.91 GAA EN .905 SV% in addition to three shutouts. He was also appointed as the NCAA All-Iivy Academic Team and NCAA All-Iivy League Honorable Mention Team in his Junior Year in 2024-25.
Target -living prospects that play elsewhere
At the moment the Canucks only have one goalkeeper in their pipeline that plays outside the Pro competitions, and that is recently 2025 Draft Pick Alexei Medvedev.
Alexei Medvedev – London Knights – Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Selected in the second round (47th General) of the design of 2025, Medvedev is now the top perspective of the Canucks. Although Tolopilo and Koskenvuo can be higher on the depth card at the moment, Medvedev has the higher ceiling and he can ultimately be Demko’s heir as the starting goalkeeper of the future of the Canucks. With Demko or Lankinen in the fold over the next five years, he has enough time to develop and can be ready to take the reins in 2029-30. Lankinen will still be under contract, so he could possibly be his experienced backup, that is, if Medvedev is considered ready for the NHL by that time.
As for this season, Medvedev returns to the London Knights After a strong campaign of 2024-25 that saw him 22-8-2 go next to a 2.79 GAA, .912 SV% and three shutouts. He is ready to be the starter of the knights with Austin Elliott who graduates, so it will be interesting to see how he is doing with the full responsibility of the fold. Anyway, he will be one of the top perspectives of the Canucks to view this season, since he was drawn up in the second round since Demko, which was selected 36th in 2014.
Canucks’ goal convening pipeline is strong
Even without Silovs in the fold, the goalkeepers of the Canucks are still on some of the best in the competition. Van Demko and Lankinen who form an elite tandem at the top to the second round pedigree of Medvedev that completes the group, the fold is not an area that they will have to worry about for a long time.
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