Leevi Meriläinen didn’t exactly get a warm-and-fuzzy welcome into his next chapter. Getting put on waivers is never easy, and the Finnish goalie admitted the move caught him off guard after he’d spent his entire pro career in the Ottawa Senators organization. But once the Canucks claimed him last week, the picture sharpened fast: Vancouver wanted him, and they see him as part of their NHL tandem to start the 2026-27 season.
That matters to Meriläinen. Recently turned 24, he’s at a point in his career where the next step is about steadiness as much as upside.
He’s already logged 32 NHL starts, and his best stretch came in 2024-25, when he went 8-3-1 with a .925% save percentage, a 1.99 goals-against average, and three shutouts. After splitting time between the NHL and AHL with Ottawa last season, he’s looking to turn that flash of promise into something more dependable in Vancouver.
“I want to get consistent with it,” said Meriläinen. “Play games consistently, play well, and help the team as best as I can, and see where that leads me.”
He got thrown right into the mix Thursday night against the Oilers and held up well, stopping 10 of 11 shots. That was enough to keep the game within reach and give the Canucks a chance to get within a pair of goals late.
The atmosphere in the building stood out to him, too. Meriläinen said he felt the energy from the fans at Rogers Arena, especially after a big glove save in the third period drew a strong reaction. He added that the team will play better in front of that crowd as the season moves along, but the first taste of that support clearly made an impression.
Vancouver also comes with a built-in comfort level for him. Aatu Räty, who was also born in Oulu, Finland, has been in Meriläinen’s orbit since they were kids.
“We were on the ice together in skating school,” said Meriläinen with a smile. “It’s [Kärpät’s] program there.”
There’s another Finnish connection in the room as well. Goaltending coach Marko Torenius is from Helsinki, and Meriläinen has enjoyed being part of an all-Finnish goalie setup with Kevin Lankinen.
“It’s been a little bit weird talking Finnish all the time out there on the ice. It’s good though.
Marko has been great. He’s giving me some good tips early on,” he said with a laugh.
“I knew about Kevin Lankinen and knew how good of a goalie he is, and just excited to work with him.”
Meriläinen is also starting to sort out the details that make a new stop feel like home, including gear in Canucks colors and a new mask design. He said he’s already thinking about what should go on it.
“I’m working on that for sure,” he said. “On the sides, I like the Finnish lion, but other than that it will be something to do with Vancouver, something to do with Canucks for sure. Maybe some orcas.”
With the Canucks heading into a back-to-back against the Calgary Flames and Vegas Golden Knights over the weekend, Meriläinen should get more action soon. For now, the job is simple: keep building, keep settling in, and make the game more consistent as his career moves forward.
In Other News...
Canucks Loss Still Put A Few Young Players In Focus
A close loss to the New York Islanders still offered the Canucks a few useful takeaways, especially from a trio of younger players who found ways to stand out amid the defeat. Leevi Merilinen, Max Sasson and Liam hgren each had moments that mattered in a game that ended 3-2, giving Vancouver a little more to evaluate beyond the final score.
Merilinen settled in well enough to keep the Canucks competitive for long stretches, while Sasson gave the club an early boost by opening the scoring and later helping create another chance with a drawn penalty. hgren also made his presence felt by drawing a penalty that led to the tying goal, the kind of detail that can catch a coaching staffs eye even on a night when the points did not go Vancouvers way. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Young Defensemen Had A Very Relatable Tim Hortons Struggle
Young Canucks defensemen Tom Willander and Zeev Buium got a taste of life away from the blue line this week, taking part in Tim Hortons annual push to mark the return of hockey cards. The campaign sent the pair behind the counter for a brief drive-thru stint, and the whole exercise served as a reminder that some jobs look a lot simpler from the outside than they really are.
The video at the center of the promotion leaned into the awkwardness of it all, especially when Willander had to take his first order over the headset. Both players came away with a clearer sense of how demanding that kind of work can be, which is part of what made the segment resonate beyond the usual hockey-card nostalgia. [Read more 🡒]
Canucks Suddenly Have A Real Battle For Bigger Roles
Early-season frustration has not kept the Canucks from finding a few encouraging layers inside their roster. The team has leaned on young players such as Elias Pettersson and Jonathan Lekkerimki, while also getting steadier work in goal from Leevi Merilinen, whose recent performances have given Vancouver a better chance to hang around in games. For a club still trying to sort out where its next wave fits, those kinds of minutes matter as much as the standings do.
Merilinens play has also turned the crease into a legitimate competition, with Lankinen still part of the mix as the Canucks decide how to distribute starts. At the same time, the staff is continuing to evaluate young defensemen and forwards as part of the broader rebuild, which makes every stretch of solid play from those players feel a little more important. Vancouver may not be where it wants to be yet, but the battle for bigger roles is clearly already underway. [Read more 🡒]