Vancouver Canucks have cycled through more players than any other team this season
Nikita Tolopilo’s season debut Wednesday night for the Vancouver Canucks was notable, in more ways than one.
In just his third NHL start, the 6-foot-6 Belarusian goalie turned aside 37 shots, helping the Canucks beat the division-leading Anaheim Ducks.
The fact that a goalie in his third NHL game beat the second-highest scoring team in the league is noteworthy.
But honestly, his presence on the ice was noteworthy in itself.
Tolopilo became the 33rd Canucks player to suit up for a game this season. That leapfrogged the Canucks ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the most players used so far this season.
Here’s a list of players who have suited up for fewer than 10 games:
- Pierre-Olivier Joseph (nine)
- Mackenzie MacEachern (eight)
- Filip Chytil (six)
- Victor Mancini (five)
- David Kampf (four)
- Jonathan Lekkerimäki (four)
- Braeden Cootes (three)
- Derek Forbort (two)
- Teddy Blueger (two)
- Nils Aman (two)
- Joseph LaBate (one)
- Jiri Patera (one)
- Nikita Tolopilo (one)
For context, the Canucks used just 32 players during the entire 2023-24 season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres, and Toronto Maple Leafs are the other teams to have used more than 30 players already this season.
Buffalo and Toronto have actually had a higher number of players absent so far this season, but the Canucks lead the league in terms of cumulative minutes missed by their banged-up players, according to NHL Injury Viz.
Although the Canucks have been victims of the injury curse more so than most teams, there are a couple of positive takeaways for the club.
A handful of players who have been forced into a bigger role because of injuries have performed admirably in their minutes. That includes centre Max Sasson, who didn’t start the season with the team, but he’s now up to five goals and seven points in 21 games this season. He has four points in his last six games.
Or how about Linus Karlsson, who scored again against the Ducks on Tuesday. He has four goals and six points during 11 games played in November. Drew O’Connor and Jake DeBrusk are the only Canucks who have scored more than Karlsson this month.
Bury those rebounds, 94. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/tFW7yO7zWC
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 27, 2025
There’s also Tom Willander, who registered the first multi-point game of his career against Anaheim. After failing to make the opening night roster, he doesn’t look like a guy who’ll be jettisoned to the minors anytime soon.
All of that goes without mentioning Tolopilo, who led the Canucks to victory in another game where Vancouver was outshot and outchanced.
“They’ve done a good job,” Adam Foote said on Thursday when asked about his less-experienced players stepping up.
“They’ve been put in some tough situations. But also, it’s pretty exciting for them to get the opportunity, show their stuff, and grow.”
Despite weathering the injury storm, Foote is looking ahead to the days when the injury list is shorter for the Canucks, if that time ever comes.
“When we get out of this, when these injured players come back, we’re gonna be deeper with guys who have more experience.”