On March 18, 2025, the Vancouver Canucks officially inked goaltending prospect Aku Koskenvuo to a two-year entry-level contract, marking a significant step in his budding hockey career. The 22-year-old Finnish goaltender, drafted 137th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, recently concluded his collegiate hockey tenure at Harvard University, where he played since the 2022-23 season.
Koskenvuo's last moments in the NCAA were bittersweet. Harvard was eliminated from the playoffs just days prior to his signing, with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss in overtime to Clarkson University on March 16, 2025. Throughout the season, he started 20 games, posting a record of 8-9-1, a goals-against average (GAA) of 2.81, and a save percentage (SV%) of .902. He recorded one shutout, which came against Quinnipiac University, where he made 25 saves.
In a recent series against Clarkson, Koskenvuo made a total of 88 saves over three games, showcasing his developing prowess and resilience. His standout performance came during the third game, where he made an impressive 39 saves and achieved a .951 SV% despite the team’s loss.
“Academics play an important part in my life,” Koskenvuo stated, reflecting on his dual commitments as a student-athlete in economics at Harvard, where he earned a place on the Ivy League Academic All-Ivy Team. “I believe it's important to combine both athletics and academics and once my family and I realized that Harvard also has a great hockey program, it seemed like a no-brainer for me.”
With his NCAA journey at an end, Koskenvuo eagerly begins his professional career with the Canucks, although the team's current goaltending lineup presents significant competition. The Canucks already have six goaltenders signed for the next season: Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen, Artūrs Šilovs, Ty Young, Jiri Patera, and now Koskenvuo to the mix. Furthermore, Nikita Tolopilo, a pending restricted free agent, may increase the competition for a place on the roster.
Koskenvuo's contract has an NHL cap hit of $850,000, but he is likely to spend most of his time in the AHL, where he will earn an $80,000 salary along with a $75,000 signing bonus each year. His imposing 6’4” stature and agile style position him as a promising candidate, yet the depth chart could complicate his immediate prospects.
As questions arise around the future goaltending hierarchy in Vancouver—questions such as whether Koskenvuo or Young will be assigned to the ECHL—Canucks management may need to reconsider their strategy moving forward. The talented goaltender's performance in Harvard and at the international level has undoubtedly turned heads; he has represented Finland in successive tournaments including the 2021 U18 World Championships, where he was recognized as one of the Top 3 Players of the tournament, and most recently at the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championships.
General Manager Patrik Allvin expressed optimism, stating, “Aku's combination of size and skill gives him a solid base to work from, while there remains room for development before he is NHL-ready.” With the NHL playoffs looming and an organization full of talent vying for positions, Koskenvuo’s adaptability and performance in the minor leagues will be essential.
Adding Koskenvuo to the ranks is seen as both a promising opportunity and a challenge, and with substantial development ahead, his future will depend significantly on how he handles the competition in the AHL or, possibly, the ECHL. For now, the Canucks organization and fans alike will be watching intently as this young player embarks on what is expected to be a long and impactful career ahead.
