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

[VanJack]

Obviously there's no way of knowing if Lankinen can maintain the pace he's currently on through an extended schedule. After all, in his four year career, he's been strictly a backup. In fact 37 games is the most he's ever played in an NHL season, and that was in his first year in Chicago.

But one skill he possesses in spades is puck-handling. It's uncanny how he can go behind his own net and stop those rim-arounds.

It's impossible to overstate how critical it is to your d-men to have a quality puck-handling goalie back there. It's almost like having an extra d-man out on every shift. For years now the Canucks blueline has been seriously vulnerable to a hard forecheck.

But Lankinen is not just stopping the puck right now.....his puck-handling is making a huge difference.

 

[biturbo19]

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.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

It's impossible to overstate how critical it is to your d-men to have a quality puck-handling goalie back there. It's almost like having an extra d-man out on every shift. For years now the Canucks blueline has been seriously vulnerable to a hard forecheck.

But Lankinen is not just stopping the puck right now.....his puck-handling is making a huge difference.

man, when’s the last time we had a goalie who could handle the puck worth a damn? felix potvin?

 

[F A N]

It's impossible to overstate how critical it is to your d-men to have a quality puck-handling goalie back there. It's almost like having an extra d-man out on every shift. For years now the Canucks blueline has been seriously vulnerable to a hard forecheck.

Mike Milbury is that you? Seriously though, a good puck handling goalie is good to have but I think the importance definitely can be overstated.

man, when’s the last time we had a goalie who could handle the puck worth a damn? felix potvin?

Johan Hedberg?

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

We aren't gonna be able to afford him next year lmao.

 

[GreatSaveLuongo]

Ride the hot hand

 

[Regal]

Obviously there's no way of knowing if Lankinen can maintain the pace he's currently on through an extended schedule. After all, in his four year career, he's been strictly a backup. In fact 37 games is the most he's ever played in an NHL season, and that was in his first year in Chicago.

To be fair his rookie year was the Covid season, so he was the starter that year, playing 37 of 56 games (equivalent to 54 in 82). Obviously not quite the same as a full season, but he managed to play well despite the starters workload rather than in just spot starts. Though he was really bad the following year.

 

[PavelBure10]

0.875 is a extreme bargain for the caliber of hockey Lankinen has shown thus far this season. What a pickup.

 

[Jyrki21]

0.875 is a extreme bargain for the caliber of hockey Lankinen has shown thus far this season. What a pickup.

I wonder how many goalies in the league have a salary lower than their SPCT like that.

 

[VanJack]

I'm coming to the conclusion that when comes to goaltenders, a lot of NHL GM's are completely clueless.

A guy like Talbot or Kuemper gets chance after chance......and a goalie like Lankinen languishes on the UFA board all summer, and then has to settle for a 'league minimum' contract from the Canucks.

With Demko's return still a mystery, Lankinen might be the 'UFA signing of the year' in the NHL. One thing's for certain. Lankinen is a UFA again this summer. And finally, he'll get seriously paid somewhere.

 

[Grip it N RYP it]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1849222153557938493

 

[BWJM]

Anyone remember a guy by the name of Casey DeSmith? Can’t seem to remember why his name is familiar.