Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign G Nikita Tolopilo to 2-Year ELC

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Nikita Tolopilo at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Nikita Tolopilo, 2000-04-06 Minsk, BLR Belarus. Most recently in the AHL with Abbotsford Canucks. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Playing in the Allsvenskan and putting up some nice numbers - BIG boy in net, 6'6.

Click to read more...

 

[Josepho]

Are we putting Silovs in as backup next year?

Seems like a pretty intriguing pickup on paper.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Are we putting Silovs in as backup next year?

Seems like a pretty intriguing pickup on paper.

My guess is the Canucks will certainly let him audition for the role. I could see them bringing in another backup in free agency to compete for the spot, as I would guess Silovs has leap frogged Martin on the depth chart at this time.

 

[Gurn]

47 contracts signed now?

Vancouver Canucks Salary Cap, Draft Picks, and Player Contracts - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

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www.capfriendly.com

 

[FroshaugFan2]

Are we putting Silovs in as backup next year?

Seems like a pretty intriguing pickup on paper.

That was my first question as well.

Also possible that Tolopilo goes back to Europe for another season or the ECHL. Leaving Abbotsford with Silovs and Martin again.

 

[VanJack]

Wow!....Massive Russian goalie listed on Hockey DB as 6'5", 229. He'll fill the net, if nothing else.

Two years in Russia, and last year in one of Sweden's lower leagues, but still only 22. Undoubtedly gets the good housekeeping seal of approval from Ian Clark.

Can never have enough good prospect goalies in the system.

 

[StickShift]

Collin Delia replacement for next year, I presume? Another AHL/NHL tweener to battle for the backup spot?

 

[Josepho]

That was my first question as well.

Also possible that Tolopilo goes back to Europe for another season or the ECHL. Leaving Abbotsford with Silovs and Martin again.

I admittedly don't know shit about goaltending but it seems like his numbers are definitely good enough to start (or at least split) in Abbotsford.

Honestly I feel like we draft/sign way too many goalies as is, especially since you can normally find guys like this in FA. Since 2017 there has been exactly one year where we didn't pick a goalie.

 

[Canucks LB]

Big boy! Good stats, still fairly young for prospects standards, nice get

 

[VanJack]

I guess it'll all be sorted out at training camp......but the way Silovs is preforming right now, I wouldn't rule him out as the backup to Demko next season. Maybe that's the reason they got a good look at him for five games, even when Demko was back and ready to go.

With Martin signed for another season; Delia might be the odd man out. They could leave Tolopilo in Europe, I suppose. But probably better to get him to Abbotsford to work with Ian Clark and the goalie coaches.

 

[ziploc]

I have been assuming Silovs gets the back up role next year - only good reason why not would be getting him a metric butt tonne of games in Abbotsford, but really he is good enough for the role. Martin and this new guy, I suppose, could fill the nets for the Baby Nucks.

 

[FroshaugFan2]

I admittedly don't know shit about goaltending but it seems like his numbers are definitely good enough to start (or at least split) in Abbotsford.

Honestly I feel like we draft/sign way too many goalies as is, especially since you can normally find guys like this in FA. Since 2017 there has been exactly one year where we didn't pick a goalie.

His numbers are good, but he was in a low level league. A move to the SHL would be a good step up.

I think he would be fine in Abbotsford as well, but him being the third goalie behind Silovs and Martin wouldn't be ideal.

 

[hellstick]

Clark must see some upside here to sign him. Seems like a giant work in progress, but as they say, you can't teach size.

 

[Lindgren]

Does he shoot right?

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Nucks
Demko
Delia

Abby
Silovs
Tolopilo

Martin on the outside looking in.

 

[iceburg]

It does seem like Delia is the odd man out.
I expect that Martin and Silovs will tag team between Vancouver and Abbotsford early next year with the goal of getting Silovs 10-15 starts in the NHL (plus 30-40 in Abbotsford) and becoming the full time backup to Demko by the end of the year.
If Tolopilo put up good numbers in the AHL he could be the fulltime starter in Abbotsford the following year.
All in all, good succession planning and depth management. I don't see any goaltenders in the system, other than Silovs, who have more upside than Tolopilo. And he didn't even cost a draft pick.

 

[MS]

I know literally nothing about this player, but I've always been of the opinion that you're better adding goaltending depth for cheap by signing Euro/NCAA UFAs than spending high picks on goalies, so tentative thumbs up.

 

[Lindgren]

Nucks
Demko
Delia

Abby
Silovs
Tolopilo

Martin on the outside looking in.

Well, Martin is signed for next season and Delia is not, so although this depth chart makes sense from one important perspective, my guess is that's not how it'll play out.

Perhaps they'll move Martin in a minor deal of some sort and sign Delia. Could happen.

The Canucks need to get an agreement signed with an ECHL team, just for the purpose of managing goaltending depth. (They should really go further than that and buy a team.)

 

[FroshaugFan2]

Martin and Delia failed spectacularly. No chance they sniff the backup job with the Canucks going for it next year.

Either give the job to Silovs if they really believe in him, or sign an NHL caliber backup.

 

[Lindgren]

Martin and Delia failed spectacularly. No chance they sniff the backup job with the Canucks going for it next year.

Either give the job to Silovs if they really believe in him, or sign an NHL caliber backup.

But ... when I went to your post immediately I was expecting the expert's scouting report on Tolopilo. C'mon!

 

[LordBacon]

Can’t complain
That’s a big body gentlemen

 

[credulous]

i don't know why they'd rush silovs. let him play a full season in abbotsford as the starter and sign a veteran backup in free agency

 

[Zippgunn]

Perhaps they'll move Martin in a minor deal of some sort and sign Delia. Could happen.

Should happen. Martin is toast.

 

[wonton15]

Thick solid tight. I wanna see how thick solid and tight he gets.

 

[iceburg]

Martin is fine as a depth goalie in Abbotsford and a 10-15 game backup in Vancouver. Yes he failed before Tocchet. But so did every other goalie. Martin plus the system that Boudreau was trying to use was a disaster. Martin plus Tocchet's system is fine as a stop gap.
I wouldn't be using any assets to acquire a veteran back-up unless Martin was the asset going the other way.