The Vancouver Canucks introduced on Saturday afternoon that they’ve signed free-agent goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract value $875,000. He was rumoured to be a goal of the workforce after information got here out that Thatcher Demko was slow-moving on his rehab in the course of the offseason. Even after including Dylan Ferguson on knowledgeable tryout (PTO), they had been nonetheless negotiating with the 29-year-old in an try and signal him to offer insurance coverage simply in case Demko wasn’t accessible to begin the season.
Welcoming Kevin Lankinen to the #Canucks! 👋 pic.twitter.com/uyEbusst7b
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) September 21, 2024
The state of affairs bought a bit extra dire when Demko got here out on the primary day of coaching camp and mainly mentioned that he didn’t have a timeline for his return. Now the Canucks have a stronger tandem with shocking rookie Arturs Silovs and a veteran in Lankinen manning the web for what may very well be the foreseeable future.
Lankinen spent final season with the Nashville Predators the place he put collectively a stable 11-6-0 file behind starter Juuse Saros together with a 2.82 goals-against common (GAA) and .908 save share (SV%). In two seasons with the Predators, he put collectively a 2.79 GAA, .912 SV%, and three shutouts. Earlier than that, he was with the Chicago Blackhawks, the workforce that signed him as an undrafted free agent.
Canucks Add Expertise Alongside Silovs
Basic supervisor Patrik Allvin wished so as to add extra depth and expertise to his goaltending group, and he bought it with Lankinen, who was extensively thought of the highest free agent nonetheless in the marketplace – and at a fairly good worth too.
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“Kevin is an skilled NHL participant who will add to our depth in aim,” mentioned Allvin. “He had a stable season final 12 months in Nashville and has the dimensions and skillset we like in a netminder. We look ahead to getting him right here to begin working with our group.”
Until there’s a giant growth in Demko’s rehab and restoration, the Canucks will go into opening night time in opposition to the Flames with Silovs and Lankinen splitting the web. With Lankinen’s expertise, he’ll most likely tackle the starter’s position with Silovs because the backup. Though, it may additionally flip right into a 1A/1B state of affairs if each carry out nicely every time they get the decision from head coach Rick Tocchet.
Preseason for the Canucks begins on Sept. 24 in opposition to the Seattle Kraken.
