Opportunity is everything for NHL goaltenders. One year, you can be well down a team’s depth chart, while the next year, you’re front and center and carrying a major load. And the latest example is that of veteran netminder Kevin Lankinen, who just signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
Welcoming Kevin Lankinen to the #Canucks! 👋 pic.twitter.com/uyEbusst7b
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 21, 2024
The 29-year-old Lankinen played 24 games with the Nashville Predators, posting a .908 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average in that span. In total, he has 112 games of NHL experience, putting up a .905 SP – and while those aren’t exactly Vezina Trophy-worthy numbers, Lankinen is headed to a better overall team in Vancouver than the Preds and Chicago Blackhawks teams he’s suited up for.
Lankinen’s addition is important insurance for Canucks, who needed depth in net given the uncertain health of star goalie Thatcher Demko this season. Demko won’t be playing during training camp, and if Vancouver hadn’t brought Lankinen in, the Canucks would’ve been looking at depending on rookie Arturs Silovs, who played well in emergency service in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, but who is even less experience than Lankinen.
Now, with Lankinen on board, he and Silovs can push each other for playing time, and Canucks coach Rick Tocchet will have options if Demko can’t be ready for the start of the season. Lankinen probably could’ve signed with any one of several teams, but the fact he chose Vancouver proves how close the NHL world thinks the Canucks are to a Cup championship.
Depending on Demko’s health, Vancouver may look to acquire a more experienced netminder to carry them through the playoffs if Demko can’t return or is hurt again. But for now, the picture between the Canucks’ pipes is much clearer and better overall than it was a day ago. With Lankinen as a stop-gap measure of sorts, Demko doesn’t have to rush to be in his best condition, and Silovs and Lankinen can hold the fort until Demko is ready to go.
The Canucks are one of the NHL’s most dynamic teams, but they’re not immune to the same goalie questions that loom over just about every franchise now and again. You don’t realize how important good goaltending is until you’re watching your top netminder in the press box and you’re searching for answers, but for Vancouver, the worrisome situation has been alleviated for the moment.
Lankinen gets what quite likely is the best opportunity of his life, and the Canucks hope to be rewarded for extending the opportunity to him. He surely didn’t write up his career trajectory to look like it does, but the fates have delivered him another chance to make it big.
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News Summary:
- Canucks Sign Lankinen, Giving Them Goalie Insurance For Injury-Battered Star Demko
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.