An emergency roster move just flipped the Canucks crease, two goalies involved

Jan 24, 2026 (12:29)

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Nikita Tolopilo gets an emergency recall for the Vancouver Canucks, and Jiri Patera heads to Abbotsford, the crease jitters again.

This was filed Saturday, and the "emergency conditions" tag says plenty on its own.

Tolopilo is 25, undrafted, and he is getting another NHL door crack.

Patera is 26, drafted in 2017, sixth round, by the Vegas Golden Knights.

The move is simple on paper, swap the No. 2 goalie and keep the roster legal.

"G Jiri Patera has been assigned to Abbotsford (AHL) and G Nikita Tolopilo has been recalled from Abbotsford under emergency conditions."

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The harder part is the feel, because goalies live on rhythm.

Tolopilo's 2025-26 NHL line sits at 2-3-0 with a .881 save percentage.

If you are a Canucks fan, you can almost hear the collective sigh already.

The coaching staff just needs 60 steady minutes between the pipes, not hero stuff.

This is also about workload management, because practices and travel chew up goalies fast.

Patera going down should mean starts and reps in Abbotsford, not a punishment.

But it also tells you Vancouver wants Tolopilo in the NHL room right now.

If he keeps rebounds quiet and tracks through traffic, the team can breathe.

If it gets leaky early, the bench gets tight, and the next call gets louder.

Either way, the next game turns into a goalie story immediately.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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JANVIER 24\|110 ANSWERS An emergency roster move just flipped the Canucks crease, two goalies involved Should Nikita Tolopilo start the next Vancouver Canucks game?
Yes	82	74.5 %
No	28	25.5 %
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