Confirmed with Link: Canucks Sign G Kevin Lankinen to 1y/0.875m Contract

[VanJack]

The whole think with the Lankinen signing was that...a lot of worse goaltenders signed on earlier than he did. He waited and bet on himself. It seems to be panning out. He's looked great playing behind a good team with good coaching and structure, and good goalie coaching to hone the details.

Agreed he waited and bet on himself this summer, but did it really pan out? In his last contract with Nashville, he earned $2m. But this year took a serious haircut to sign with the Canucks for less than $1m.

Hopefully for him, his career mirrors that of Casey DeSmith. He parlayed a stellar year as a Canuck backup last season, into a three year deal with Dallas.

 

[Quinning]

You can tell his pace is falling off a bit because of the workload, but he's still a far better option than Silovs.

 

[VanJack]

You can tell his pace is falling off a bit because of the workload, but he's still a far better option than Silovs.

Lankinen has been a story for the Canucks in the early going, but the reality is the most games he's ever played in one NHL season is 37 in his first season in Chicago.

The last two seasons in Nashville, he's played 19 and 24 games behind Jusse Saros. So he's a competent career backup, and we may be seeing why. He's a guy who may wear down quickly and not be capable of playing 45-55 games.

I can understand why Tocchet threw Silovs to the wolves against the Devils. It gave Lankinen four days off before the Sharks game on Saturday. They'd still better be praying that Demko returns 'sooner' rather than 'later'.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Agreed he waited and bet on himself this summer, but did it really pan out? In his last contract with Nashville, he earned $2m. But this year took a serious haircut to sign with the Canucks for less than $1m.

So far 100% yes.

Hopefully for him, his career mirrors that of Casey DeSmith. He parlayed a stellar year as a Canuck backup last season, into a three year deal with Dallas.

 

[F A N]

Lankinen has been a story for the Canucks in the early going, but the reality is the most games he's ever played in one NHL season is 37 in his first season in Chicago.

The last two seasons in Nashville, he's played 19 and 24 games behind Jusse Saros. So he's a competent career backup, and we may be seeing why. He's a guy who may wear down quickly and not be capable of playing 45-55 games.

Lankinen not playing many games was due to a lack of opportunity. He never got a chance to play a starter’s role. Hard to say if he will wear down and if so whether that’s more due to not being used to it.

 

[Lindgren]

Pass it to Bulis has an interesting piece on Lankinen. (He reads a lot.)

How reading keeps Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen at the top of his game

 

[HelloCookie]

Pass it to Bulis has an interesting piece on Lankinen. (He reads a lot.)

How reading keeps Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen at the top of his game

I'm tempted to buy a fanatics jersey at the moment

 

[Vector]

Pass it to Bulis has an interesting piece on Lankinen. (He reads a lot.)

How reading keeps Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen at the top of his game

God damn f***ing nerd!

Hughes also reads a lot.

 

[Canuckle1970]

Pass it to Bulis has an interesting piece on Lankinen. (He reads a lot.)

How reading keeps Canucks’ Kevin Lankinen at the top of his game

I'm really impressed with the person, as much as I am with his goaltending. I think a few more players on the team could learn from his ability to use his downtime (in this case, reading) as a tool to re-focus his energy.

 

[Lindgren]

I'm really impressed with the person, as much as I am with his goaltending. I think a few more players on the team could learn from his ability to use his downtime (in this case, reading) as a tool to re-focus his energy.

Yes. One especially.

 

[supercanuck]

 

[AzNightmare]

Agreed he waited and bet on himself this summer, but did it really pan out? In his last contract with Nashville, he earned $2m. But this year took a serious haircut to sign with the Canucks for less than $1m.

Hopefully for him, his career mirrors that of Casey DeSmith. He parlayed a stellar year as a Canuck backup last season, into a three year deal with Dallas.

What's the backstory with Lankinen? I didn't follow him at all prior to the signing.
Did he turn down offers from other teams or something?

 

[PuckMunchkin]

What's the backstory with Lankinen? I didn't follow him at all prior to the signing.
Did he turn down offers from other teams or something?

In the HS.fi article he said he turned down more money for an opportunity to get a bigger role and try to up his status as a potential starter or 1b type of goalie.

 

[ArthurNHL]

What a steal so far..

 

[IComeInPeace]

Given Demko’s injury history and pending next contract…

…at what point do you look at Lankinen and try and get him signed long term?

Very small sample size with us, but he did put up almost identical numbers to Saros last season in Nashville (albeit against weaker competition).

Yes there is obvious risk, but if you’re sold on his fundamentals, you could potentially get a starting goalie for really cheap.

He’d have significant motivation to sign a long term deal at this point.

But, if he keeps playing as he is, the longer it goes the stronger the likelihood he wants to test free agency.

A bet on him now could really save some big money at a key position.

Again, I’d only do it if the team was sold on him being technically very sound.

On the other hand Silovs looked good over a similar sample size in the playoffs not long ago.
The difference is Lankinen has significant NHL experience to fall back on.

 

[ArthurNHL]

This is true.

But, also, Lankinen isn't exactly a coal miner here. He is getting compensated fairly well, though he could theoretically be getting more.

You must be either an idiot or high and I don't care which

 

[ziploc]

You must be either an idiot or high and I don't care which

Welcome to HFboards! Sounds like you will be a wonderful addition to the culture here.

 

[mossey3535]

Lankinen not playing many games was due to a lack of opportunity. He never got a chance to play a starter’s role. Hard to say if he will wear down and if so whether that’s more due to not being used to it.

Technically in 2020-21 he played 37/56 games. But there's no substitute for dealing with the mental and physical toll of a 50+ workload.

 

[Jyrki21]

In the HS.fi article he said he turned down more money for an opportunity to get a bigger role and try to up his status as a potential starter or 1b type of goalie.

Assuming they're really going to ride him for a while here, it's going to be a great test of how he holds up under full-time duty. If he is looking even average-ish by the mid-point of the season, it's hard to see why he wouldn't be an NHL starter.

His trademark coming into the season was high-danger chances, and he certainly has lived up to that billing so far.

 

[HairyKneel]

Welcome to HFboards! Sounds like you will be a wonderful addition to the culture here.

There's culture here?

 

[jd22]

There's culture here?

A bacterial culture. You will not see such a wretched collection of scum and villainy this side of CDC.

 

[Camik]

Hello Canucks fans,

I'm Finnish but I don't follow Canucks very much. I'm interest that how has Lankinen managed? SV% 91.92 and GAA 2.25 is great imo but how do you think? Has he performed better or worse than expected?

-Camik

 

[Scumbag Frank]

Hello Canucks fans,

I'm Finnish but I don't follow Canucks very much. I'm interest that how has Lankinen managed? SV% 91.92 and GAA 2.25 is great imo but how do you think? Has he performed better or worse than expected?

-Camik

Way better than expected, playing way above his salary. Those stats don't fully show how good he's been because of how many great chances and odd man rushes the Canucks are giving up.
Either the Canucks best or 2nd best player so far this season. All their wins are with Lankinen in net. Canucks got lucky he wasn't signed earlier.

Side note, rarely do you see such a big difference in goalie stats between 2 goalies on the same team.
Lankinen: 5-0-2, GAA 2.25, SV% .919
Silovs: 0-2-1, GAA 5.00, SV% .797

 

[HelloCookie]

Hello Canucks fans,

I'm Finnish but I don't follow Canucks very much. I'm interest that how has Lankinen managed? SV% 91.92 and GAA 2.25 is great imo but how do you think? Has he performed better or worse than expected?

-Camik

Keskustorille. He's the difference between a winning record and absolute nuclear panic over struggling to play 60 minutes with process and results.

 

[F A N]

Technically in 2020-21 he played 37/56 games. But there's no substitute for dealing with the mental and physical toll of a 50+ workload.

Right. But that's also years ago.