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...
Flames Loss In Vancouver Exposed A Familiar Problem Again
Vancouvers win over Calgary had the kind of hard-edged, scrappy feel that tends to reveal a teams habits as much as it rewards them. The Canucks leaned into a physical, patchy game and got important work from Leevi Merilinen in goal, where his calm, effective presence helped steady things when the pace got choppy. Schenn and others brought the sort of straight-ahead physicality that can tilt a matchup like this, especially when both sides are grinding for every loose puck.
Still, the game also looked familiar in one area the Canucks would probably rather not revisit. Even with the result going their way, the power play struggled badly throughout the night, and it remained the one part of the performance that did not match the rest of the effort. For a team trying to build on wins like this, the frustration is that the margin for error gets thinner when a familiar weakness keeps showing up in the same moments. [Read more 🡒]
Elias Pettersson Looked Like A Difference-Maker Again In Canucks Win
The Canucks got what they needed in a 4-1 win over the Flames, and Elias Pettersson was in the middle of it again. The center not only picked up an assist, he also led Vancouver in hits, a reminder that his value stretches well beyond the scoring sheet when the game gets heavy.
Behind him, the night also brought a milestone in goal, with Leevi Merilinen earning his first win in Vancouver after stopping 23 shots. Luke Schenn added the kind of physical presence and leadership the Canucks often lean on in divisional games, helping set the tone in a matchup that had plenty of edge from the opening shift. [Read more 🡒]
Senators Blue-Line Trouble Just Made This Trade Rumor More Interesting
The early-season picture around the Vancouver Canucks has only made one of the leagues lingering trade ideas feel a little more complicated. Elias Pettersson has gotten off to a strong start and given the organization something to think about at a time when every conversation about the roster seems to come with a bigger strategic question attached, especially with the Canucks trying to sort out where they stand in the longer view.
Ottawas injury situation on the blue line adds another layer to the chatter. With Artem Zub and Jake Sanderson both out, the Senators have a real need on defense and could be pushed toward exploring the market, which is why a name like Simon Edvinsson is suddenly worth watching after reports that contract talks with Detroit have stalled and he would rather be moved than sign a new deal. For Vancouver, it is one more reminder that the trade board around the league is starting to shift in ways that could eventually spill over into their own decisions. [Read more 🡒]