Canucks Targeting Free Agent Goalie Kevin Lankinen

With the uncertainty of Thatcher Demko being able to start the season, the Vancouver Canucks have been on the market for a goaltender to tide them over for a while. It now looks like that search has them zeroed in on unrestricted free agent Kevin Lankinen.

Canucks continue to look for a goalie. It appears that Kevin Lankinen is their target. Lankinen had a very strong 2 seasons in Nashville and made $2 million last year. The Canucks salary cap situation will likely make this very difficult to pull off.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) August 22, 2024

The Canucks, however, have next to no cap space at the moment—less than $200,000, per PuckPedia. They will need to make another roster move in order to make this happen.

Lankinen earned $2 million on a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators last season, and in his 24 appearances (17 starts), did nothing to indicate that he should take much of a pay cut. He went 11-6-0 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.82 goals-against average. With time running short before camps open, however, he just might have to settle for less.

The 29-year-old's previous season in Nashville was even better, when, in 17 starts, he recorded a .916 Sv% with a 2.75 GAA.

This will be Lankinen's 5th year in the NHL, once he lands a deal, and overall, in 112 appearances, he owns a .905 Sv% with a 3.07 GAA. He's never been a No. 1 starter, but actually could get the chance in Vancouver, if they figure out a way to sign him.

Arturs Silovs would currently be coming into camp as the starter, with Demko still recovering from his knee injury, but the 23-year-old has just 9 regular season NHL games under his belt coming into this year. He did, however, fill in admirably for Demko in the pressure situation of the playoffs in 10 games, going 5-5 with an .898 Sv% and 2.91 GAA.

It's certainly possible that Lankinen could win the starter's role from Silvos if he does indeed sign.