The Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced on Saturday morning that forward Ty Mueller and goaltender Nikita Tolopilo have been summouned from AHL Abbotsford.
This marks the first National Hockey League call-up for Mueller in his professional career. Tolopilo was called up to help back up Arturs Silovs in the playoffs last season when both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith went down with injury.
Tolopilo signed a two-year $1.9 million contract as a undrafted free agent with the Canucks in late March of 2023. Before joining the organization, Tolopilo gained notice after an impressive 28-17 record with a 2.10 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.
The Bellarusian netminder has a combined 38-27-3 record with a 2.76 goals against average and a .903 save percentage through his two seasons with the Canucks organization. Tolopilo is in the final year of his contract and will finally get a taste of NHL action along with fellow first-timer, Ty Mueller.
The Canucks selected Ty Mueller in the fourth round (105th overall) in the 2023 NHL entry draft. The center spent his draft plus one year in the NCAA with the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he scored 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points.
Once their season ended, Mueller turned pro and signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks and a few days later, an Amateur Tryout Agreement with the Abbotsford Canucks to finish the 2023-2024 season. He would not get into game action until the 2024-2025 season.
Mueller made the opening night roster against the Calgary Wranglers and would register his first point in his fifth AHL game. The 5’11” forward leans into the San Diego Gulls defender to get to the puck first and passes it back to Mark Friedman, who drops to a knee and finds the back of the net.
He would find his first AHL goal off a tipped John Stevens shot just 11 games with the Abbotsford Canucks.
Mueller would then start catching fire, registering 20 points in the following 27 games. He not only was starting to get recognized as a contributor from his Head Coach Manny Malhotra and seeing more ice time, but he caught the eye of the AHL as he was then honoured as Abbotsford’s representative at the AHL All-Star game.
During his rookie campaign, Mueller has scored 12 goals and added 26 assists for 38 points through 62 games and currently sits in a tie for third on the team with Sammy Blais, trailing only Arshdeep Bains (41) and Aatu Räty (39).
In a puzzling move, Mueller was held out of Abbotsford’s lineup for Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Calgary Wranglers, despite their 13-game winning streak – Mueller had 12 points in those games.
Malhotra gave no concrete answer on why Mueller missed the game. He did not mention an illness or injury.
With not much to play for in Vancouver, this is a move rewarding a young player down in Abbotsford with a taste of NHL action. The Canucks face-off against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night where Mueller will have an opportunity to make his NHL debut.