Breaking: Canucks Lock Up Goaltender Kevin Lankinen to Long-Term Extension

Where would the Vancouver Canucks be this season if not for Kevin Lankinen? His last-minute signing during training camp turned out to be the savior of their season, and now they've rewarded him with a massive five-year extension with a $4.5 million AAV.

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the club has agreed to terms with goaltender Kevin Lankinen on a 5-year contract extension with a $4.5M AAV.

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— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 21, 2025

The deal includes $8.5 million in signing bonuses. He gets a full no-move clause for the first two years of the deal, and a modified no-trade (15 teams) for the last three years of the contract.

The Canucks signed the 29-year-old to a one-year 'prove it' deal at a discount price of $875,000 in late September, facing the prospect of having their top netminder Thatcher Demko out for an extended period this season.

All Lankinen did was come in and lock down the crease in Vancouver, with 34 starts already blowing away his previous career high by 10 games, while posting a 19-8-7 record thus far, with a .905 save percentage and two more career bests with a 2.53 goals against average and four shutouts.

His play on the road was especially significant, as he became the first goalie in NHL history to start a season with ten consecutive wins away from home.

“Kevin has done a great job for us in net this season,” said GM Patrik Allvin. “Right from the start of the year, he has shown a strong desire to compete and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win hockey games. A good leader and teammate, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in right now without his strong play.”

Despite a chaotic season overall for the team, Lankinen has been the consistent backbone of the squad, with the Canucks currently sitting at 26-18-11 and holding down the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.