Canucks sign Kevin Lankinen to five-year contract extension
The Vancouver Canucks announced Friday that the club has signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a five-year extension that carries a $4.5-million annual average value.
In his first season with the Canucks, the 29-year-old netminder has made 34 appearances in which he has posted a 19-8-7 record alongside a .905 save percentage, 2.54 goals-against average, and four shutouts. Along the way, Lankinen set an NHL record in becoming the first goaltender to begin a season with 10 consecutive road victories.
Lankinen rejoins the Canucks this weekend following his recent appearance with Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off where through two outings he went 1-1-0 with an .811 save percentage and 4.83 goals-against average.
Originally signing with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, Lankinen has seen 146 career contests counting stops with the Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, and Canucks in which he has established a 64-51-19 record with a .905 save percentage, 2.94 goals-against average, and seven shutouts.
Lankinen joined the Canucks in September, agreeing to a one-year, $875,000 deal in the waning days of unrestricted free agency. As part of the Predators in 2023-24, Lankinen went 11-6-0 through 24 appearances in which he posted a .908 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average, and one shutout.
Lankinen’s contract extension comes on the heels of a Tuesday report indicating that Canucks starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is sidelined on a week-to-week basis due to a lower-body ailment. The 29-year-old has battled injury challenges in recent years, highlighted by his 12-game absence during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the first 24 games to begin the current campaign. Per PuckPedia, Demko is in the fourth year of a five-year contract that carries a $5-million annual average value.
With the 4 Nations Face-Off now wrapped up, the Canucks will return to action Saturday against the Vegas Golden Knights. On the season, the Canucks sit 26-18-11 to hold down the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference with 63 points.