Goalie prospect Nikita Tolopilo close to forcing management's hand to trade Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen
Photo credit: Bob Frid - Imagn Images.
Nikita Tolopilo's play and rise in the Vancouver Canucks organization may force General Manager Patrik Allvin to make a trade involving Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen.
The next few weeks are going to be interesting in the Lower Mainland as trade rumors are continuing to swirl involving members of the Vancouver Canucks, most notably Kiefer Sherwood after Patrik Allvin decided to make all of his pending unrestricted free agents available on the market.
That news didn't come as much of a shock to Vancouver Canucks fans last week given where the team is in the NHL's standings and beyond their pending UFAs, many are wondering what the future holds for veterans on this roster, including Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen, who could potential be available for the right price.
"I think there is going to be a little bit of a goalie market here, and I'm wondering if one if not both of the Vancouver goalies are gonna be available." Irfaan Gaffar said last week.
Nikita Tolopilo's play could force Patrik Allvin to trade Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen
In an article this weekend for The Province Patrick Johnston discussed those aforementioned Vancouver Canucks trade rumors and what it could means for the team's goaltending situation going forward.
Johnston wonders if the Vancouver Canucks give Nikita Tolopilo a start during next weekend's back-to-back against Utah or Minnesota and he performs well, could it put the pressure on Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen to the point where they could have trade value and be a chip for Patrik Allvin to dangle leading up to March 6th's deadline.
"And then we'll surely have the discussion of goalie value: Will Tolopilo's performance put pressure on Lankinen and Demko? Of course, you want to have three NHL-quality goalies. But it will also prompt another discussion: Can you find trade value in one of the two veteran goalies?" Johnston said.
Demko and Lankinen are locked up for three and four more years, respectively, beyond the 2025-26 season, which would increase their value on the trade market as they're not rentals and for a team like the Edmonton Oilers, who are desperately in need of goaltending help, one phone call to Patrik Allvin could go a long way in solving their biggest problem.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 30 | 1537 ANSWERS Goalie prospect Nikita Tolopilo close to forcing management's hand to trade Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen Do you think the Vancouver Canucks should keep Nikita Tolopilo in the NHL and trade one of Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen? | ||
| Yes | 1252 | 81.5 % |
| No | 285 | 18.5 % |
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