Vancouver Canucks re-sign two restricted free agents
The Vancouver Canucks locked up two more players today, as GM Patrik Allvin continues with the team’s offseason business.
Two restricted free agents have been re-signed, in goaltender Nikita Tolopilo and defenceman Jett Woo.
Both contracts are two-way deals, meaning each player will get paid less money when sent to the AHL. Tolopilo’s contract is a two-year deal, while Woo signed a one-year contract. Both players will earn the NHL minimum salary ($775,000) when called up to Vancouver.
Tolopilo, 25, earned his first NHL call-up last season, appearing in two games for the Canucks. The 6-foot-6 netminder posted a 20-14-2 record and a .902 save percentage in 36 AHL games with Abbotsford last season, and could be poised to take over the starter’s job if Arturs Silovs is traded or lost on waivers.
This was the Belarussian’s second season in North America, after the Canucks signed him as an undrafted free agent out of the Allsvenskan in Sweden in 2023.
“Nikita had a good year of development in Abbotsford,” said Allvin. “He worked hard on his game, and he took a step forward in becoming a better pro. We will continue to work with him to provide the best path forward for both the player and our organization.”
Woo is still looking to play his first NHL game. A second-round draft pick by the Canucks in 2018, the 24-year-old provides depth in the organization on defence. The 6-foot-0, 205-pound defenceman scored 18 points (2-16-18) in 67 AHL games last season.
“Jett was a key member of our playoff run in Abbotsford,” said Allvin. “Logging those minutes in the playoffs should help him become a better player and leader moving forward. It’s an experience he can build on this fall to start next season.”
Abbotsford won’t be returning the same team next season, which isn’t unusual, even for a Calder Cup championship squad. Notably, Phil Di Giuseppe signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Sammy Blais is now a member of the Montreal Canadiens, and Cole McWard has joined the New York Islanders.
Six other Canucks players are unrestricted free agents, including defencemen Christian Wolanin, Akito Hirose, and Christian Felton, as well as forwards Nathan Smith, Tristen Nielsen, and Ty Glover.
Vitali Kravtsov, who played last season in the KHL, is still under club control as a restricted free agent. The former ninth overall draft pick scored 58 points in 66 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk.
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