Canucks claim Leevi Meriläinen off waivers from Senators

The Vancouver Canucks have added to their goalie depth for the 2025-26 season, using their top spot in the NHL Waiver Priority to claim Leevi Meriläinen from the Ottawa Senators. 

With the addition, the Canucks now have more depth behind the injury-ridden Thatcher Demko, who has missed the entire preseason, veteran Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo. At the same time, it could mark the end of a PTO for veteran backstop Chris Driedger, who played a period in Thursday’s 2–1 loss to an AHL-heavy Edmonton Oilers team, despite the Canucks dressing a near full-strength lineup. 

Meriläinen hit the Senators’ waiver wire after playing 20 games in 2025-26, posting a 3.51 goals-against average and a .860 save percentage. He also saw 19 games with the AHL’s Belleville Senators, posting a 2.77 GAA and a .909 save percentage, including a pair of shutouts. 

Initially selected 71st overall in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft after impressive seasons with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, Meriläinen struggled to claim the top role in Ottawa. This preseason, he found himself behind Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson. 

Once touted as a potential stabling saviour for the long-term future of the Senators’ crease, the Finnish netminder ends his Ottawa tenure having appeared in just 34 NHL games, with a 3.00 GAA and .885 save percentage, never fully climbing from a successful 89-game spell in the AHL since making his professional debut in 2022-23 with a brief NHL spell. 

The native of Oulu, Finland, is set to earn $1.1 million in total salary this season, but serves as an upgrade to Tolopilo and fits within the Canucks’ rebuilding plans, given the team is not expected to trend near the salary cap at any point in the campaign.

With Demko still sidelined and Lankinen the presumed top choice to start the regular season, Meriläinen will contend with Tolopilo for the backup role, with one likely bound for the Abbotsford Canucks, though Tolopilo would need waivers to get there. 

The Canucks will wrap up their preseason schedule on Saturday against the Seattle Kraken, looking to avoid a fourth loss in as many exhibition games, before opening their NHL schedule on Sept. 29 against the Edmonton Oilers.