Two Canucks storylines are worth tracking right now, and both come with an asterisk: it’s early, and nobody’s handing out conclusions yet. Still, Leevi Merilainen is forcing a look in goal, while Anthony Romani is giving Vancouver a reminder that sixth-round picks can still matter.
Merilainen’s latest chance came Thursday in a rough 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, when he replaced Kevin Lankinen to start the third period. He gave the Canucks a steadier look the rest of the way, stopping 15 of 16 shots. For a team trying to sort out its crease, that matters.
The numbers are starting to tilt in Merilainen’s direction. He has won his only start and carries a 1.62 goals-against average with a .941 save percentage through five periods.
Lankinen, meanwhile, is 1-3-0 with a 7.06 goals-against average and a .786 save percentage. The sample is still small, and Lankinen has had some tough matchups, but Merilainen is making the most of every opening he gets.
That makes this weekend especially interesting. Vancouver has back-to-back road games against the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, and Merilainen has another chance to strengthen his case. If he keeps stacking stops, the coaching staff may have a real decision on its hands.
Away from the NHL club, Romani delivered a sharp performance of his own at Michigan State. He scored twice and added an assist in a 6-2 win over Northern Michigan University, a three-point night that stands out for a player still early in his development.
Romani’s freshman season already gave Vancouver something to watch. He finished with 14 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last season, solid production for a young player in college hockey. Now, after being taken in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, he’s showing why patience matters with prospects who aren’t drafted near the top.
A sixth-round pick doesn’t come with guarantees. What it comes with is a long runway, and Romani is in the middle of using it. College hockey gives him time to grow, add strength, and keep proving he can produce against tougher competition.
One strong night won’t rewrite his future, but it does add another encouraging note. For the Canucks, that’s part of the bigger picture: they need talent to emerge from all over the system, not just the highest picks. Romani is making himself worth the watch.
For now, Merilainen’s rise is the more immediate question. Romani’s progress is the longer game. Both are worth keeping tabs on.
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For Vancouver, the real watch item is no longer just Petterssons production at the top of the lineup, but what the coaching staff decides to do behind him. The Canucks have options to consider in goal after Kevin Lankinen was tagged for six goals on 18 shots, and how they handle that spot could matter just as much as whether Pettersson keeps rolling against New Jersey. [Read more 🡒]