The Vancouver Canucks claimed 24-year-old goaltender Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators, adding depth behind Thatcher Demko.
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The Vancouver Canucks claimed goaltender Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from the Ottawa Senators on Friday, bringing the 6-foot-3 Finnish netminder to Vancouver ahead of the regular season.
Meriläinen, 24, has 34 games of NHL experience, including 20 appearances with Ottawa last season. He recorded a 16-14-3 record at the NHL level with a 3.00 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.
Ottawa selected Meriläinen in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Since moving to North America in 2023, his pro career has included a split between the NHL and AHL, including 84 career AHL games with a 39-29-10 record, a 2.59 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage.
The Canucks’ acquisition comes as Thatcher Demko continues to rehab after double hip surgery. With Demko expected to miss time, Vancouver has been looking to firm up its backup goaltending plan.
The claim is also expected to influence Vancouver’s roster decisions among its current goaltending group. If the team keeps two goaltenders on the NHL roster at the start of the season, the available information indicates it could open with a tandem involving Lankinen and Meriläinen, while Nikita Tolopilo would be the likely candidate to be exposed to waivers if the Canucks want to send him to Abbotsford.
Vancouver also has Chris Driedger in the mix. The 32-year-old veteran is on a pro-tryout contract, and he played in the third period of Thursday night’s game.
The Canucks’ waiver priority began with their finish at the bottom of the NHL standings in 2025-26, giving them the advantage in waiver claims at the start of the season. The team may still be looking at additional additions, including another depth defenceman and possibly another centre depending on the severity of Filip Chytil’s latest injury.
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