What Canucks waiving Nikita Tolopilo likely means for the opening-day roster

The Vancouver Canucks placed goaltender Nikita Tolopilo on waivers on Sunday ahead of the deadline to establish their opening-day roster. The roster move followed the club's earlier waiver claim of goaltender Leevi Meriläinen. If Tolopilo clears waivers, Vancouver intends to assign him to the AHL, while a waiver claim could prompt the club to sign Chris Driedger to a professional tryout deal.

With Tolopilo being the only player waived, defender Guillaume Brisebois and forward Arshdeep Bains appear set to make Vancouver's 23-man roster. Both players avoided waivers alongside a waiver-exempt group that features prospects Tom Willander, Liam Öhgren, Zeev Buium, and defenseman Elias Pettersson.