CHICAGO – Kevin Lankinen was still without a contract when September began, but the goalie wasn’t too worried.
“I knew there were opportunities in the [marché des joueurs autonomes]that I had my fate in my hands and that I could wait for the best offer for me,” said the Vancouver Canucks goalie. “I knew there were openings and that I had to stay patient, calm and trust the process, and eventually, I took advantage of the opportunity. »
Difficult to say otherwise.
Due to the indefinite absence of number one goalie Thatcher Demko with a lower body injury, the Canucks signed Lankinen to a one-year contract worth $875,000 on September 21. He’s been excellent so far, with a 3-0-1 record, 1.70 goals-against average, .941 save percentage and one shutout in four starts.
Lankinen will be the starter again when the Canucks face the Pittsburgh Penguins at Rogers Arena on Saturday (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, SN-PIT).
Demko posted a 35-14-2 record with a 2.45 save percentage, .918 save percentage and five shutouts in 51 starts last season. He was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the best goaltender in the NHL.
Lankinen is 48-43-13 with a 3.02 GAA, .906 save percentage and four shutouts in 116 career games (105 starts) with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and the Canucks.
“I like the fact that he’s pretty unflappable, but I also like his puck-handling skills,” said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. “It’s an underrated aspect, but it really helps our defensive structure on restarts.
“In the past, teams used to clear the puck through the boards against us. But in the last two games where ‘Lanks’ was in net, I think they haven’t done it as much because they know he’s going to stop the puck. This is an advantage for us. »
Lankinen attended his first practice with the Canucks on Sept. 24, five days after camp began in Penticton, B.C., and three days after signing with them. The transition, he says, “was pretty easy.”
“As a goalie, it’s probably easier because you just have to stop the puck. That’s your job,” he said, laughing. “At the end of the day, there’s a lot of other things that come into play, off-ice stuff, chemistry, knowing everyone and feeling comfortable. Everyone did a great job making me feel good and comfortable. It helped me give the best of myself here.”
If finding himself in this situation has caused him any anxiety, Lankinen doesn’t show it. The 29-year-old has a likeable personality and his calm and collected demeanor has stood him in good stead.
“I didn’t know much about him (before he signed with Vancouver). He’s a great guy, works really hard and plays really well for us,” said forward JT Miller. “It’s exciting and I’m happy for him. »
Lankinen, who was never drafted, played his first two seasons in the NHL with the Blackhawks, where he got most of his starts (37) during the 2020-21 season, shortened to 56 games, before to assist Marc-André Fleury in 2021-22.
He spent the last two seasons with the Nashville Predators, where he backed up Juuse Saros, who finished fifth in the Vezina Trophy voting last season and fourth in 2022-23.
“He was great. I love Lanks,” said Predators head coach Andrew Brunette. “Every day he showed his work ethic, his competitive nature and everything he can do, and he won important games for us.
“I think it reflects his personality and who he is. He likes to live in the present moment. We miss him. I think he was a very good part for our team. ‘Juice’ (Saros) and him had a very good bond. They are both very competitive.”
Saros has played 64 games in each of the last two seasons, so Lankinen hasn’t been in net as often as he was in Chicago. But he believes that having worked with Saros was “decisive” for his development.
“What I told myself when I went there was that I was going to use these years to improve my game. I know that I have the talent to become a good goaltender in the League,” said Lankinen. It allowed me to have the chance to work daily with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, to see his habits and learn from him, to work on my game and to obtain good results once in action .
“Off the ice, we worked a lot with goaltending coach Ben Vanderklok and I think those few years there helped me grow not only as a goaltender, but also as a than anyone.”
Lankinen was patient at a time when he could have been very anxious. That attitude has paid off so far in Vancouver.
“I played against them last year in the playoffs, so I know what the team is like and where they’re going,” he said. They are building and there are a lot of great pieces here, from defense to offense, from the coaching staff to the goalies. Everything is in place here, so I felt like it was a great opportunity for me to join a competitive team and I’m happy to be a part of it. »
*With the collaboration of Bruce Miles, independent NHL.com correspondent
