Canucks Claim Leevi Merilainen From Senators

The Vancouver Canucks have become the first team to make a claim on the preseason waiver wire. Vancouver has claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. This move will shift Merilainen to a new team four years after his debut in the Senators’ pro ranks.

Merilainen will shift into a full-time role with a team in need. The Canucks have struggled to fill the absence left by oft-injured starter Thatcher Demko. Three different goalies played in at least 20 games with Vancouver last season. The group was led by Kevin Lankinen, who struggled to an 11-27-5 record and .876 save percentage through 47 games. Demko was the goalie room’s statistical leader, posting an 8-10-1 record and .895 save percentage in 20 games. With Demko once again sidelined by injury, Vancouver seemed set to roll out Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo as their goalie duo for the 2026-27 campaign.

Merilainen should offer a boost over Tolopilo, despite a down year in 2025-26. He recorded an 8-10-1 record and .860 save percentage in 20 games with Ottaw alst year. It was a major dip from his impressive performance in 2024-25 – marked by an 8-3-1 record and .925 save percentage. Merilainen has a wealth experience for only being 24 years old. In addition to 34 NHL games, he has also appeared in 84 AHL games, marked by a 39-29-10 record and .911 save percentage. His performances have often been above-average, though also subject to peaks and valleys.

The Canucks could be the perfect landing spot as Merilainen seeks out more opportunity at the top level.  He signed a one-year, $1.1MM contract in Ottawa earlier this summer and will be an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent next July unless he is re-signed first. A strong start to his tenure in Vancouver could earn Merilainen a long-term deal that pays him to fill 40-or-more games in a season.