Could a Waiver-Wire Pickup Really Be Vancouver’s Answer in Net?

Leevi Meriläinen just had himself a night against the Calgary Flames for his new team. And if last night’s game is any indication, the Vancouver Canucks might have stumbled into something pretty interesting in goal. Let’s start with the numbers. Calgary generated 2.07 expected goals against him, and Meriläinen gave up just one. His 1.07 GSAx basically says he stopped about a goal more than an average goalie would have in the same situation.

That’s a pretty good night. And Vancouver wasn’t playing a perfect defensive game in front of him. The Canucks were getting outplayed for stretches, especially early in the first period. But Calgary couldn’t generate many high-danger chances. Still, Meriläinen had to make some saves. That’s what caught my attention.

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And where did Meriläinen come from?

That’s the fun part. Meriläinen wasn’t a big trade acquisition. He wasn’t some expensive free-agent signing. The Canucks picked him up off the waiver wire from the Ottawa Senators. You don’t really know what you’ve got in a waiver-wire goalie when you first pick him up. You’re hoping you’ve found something useful.

Then he goes out and gives you a game like this. Well, maybe you’ve found something a little more than useful. The other thing I liked was that this wasn’t simply Meriläinen standing on his head while everybody else in front of him ran around.

The Canucks actually played some pretty good team defence. Calgary had just three high-danger chances all night. That’s encouraging, too. It suggests a little chemistry might be developing between the goalie and the players in front of him. That’s different from asking one guy to rescue everybody every night.

Could Meriläinen’s solid play become a tipping point?

It’s way too early to answer that question. One good game doesn’t make a season, and Meriläinen still has a lot to prove. But that’s also what makes this fun.

The Canucks are rebuilding. They’re trying to figure out which pieces belong in the next version of this team. You don’t know where those pieces are going to come from. Sometimes they’re obvious. And sometimes a guy arrives on the waiver wire and gives you something you weren’t really expecting.

If Meriläinen can keep playing anywhere close to this level, he could become one of those quietly important stories of the season. For a team still finding its identity under a new coaching staff, having a goalie who can give you a chance on nights when everything else isn’t quite clicking could be a big deal.

Maybe Meriläinen is that guy. It’s early. But for a rebuilding team, finding something you weren’t expecting is a pretty nice way to start.

Related: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Oilers, Maple Leafs & Goals Galore