The Vancouver Canucks have officially bolstered their goaltending depth by signing former Chicago Blackhawks netminder Kevin Lankinen to a one-year contract worth $875,000 for the 2024–25 season. General Manager Patrik Allvin confirmed the signing on Saturday, providing the Canucks with a critical backup option as star goaltender Thatcher Demko continues his recovery, with no definitive timeline for his return.
Lankinen, 29, brings four seasons of NHL experience and a reputation as a reliable backup. Last season with the Nashville Predators, he posted an 11-6-8 record in 24 games, along with a 2.82 goals-against average (GAA), a .908 save percentage (SV%), and one shutout. Over his NHL career, Lankinen has played 112 games, earning a 45-43-12 record, a 3.07 GAA, a .905 SV%, and three shutouts.
The Finnish goaltender started his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020, where he set franchise records and established himself as a solid presence in the net. Now, joining Arturs Silovs on Vancouver’s roster, Lankinen will provide much-needed stability until Demko is fully fit.
Demko, 28, remains the team’s top goaltender but is still working through his recovery process. Following practice on Thursday, Demko updated reporters on his status, sharing, “I would say it hasn’t been linear. There’s a lack of research. I don’t know too much about what this looks like full picture at the end of the process.”
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Demko had a stellar 2024 season, finishing second in Vezina Trophy voting after posting a 35-14-2 record, a 2.45 GAA, a .918 SV%, and five shutouts in 51 regular-season appearances. However, a knee injury sidelined him for most of March, and he only played in one postseason game before his season ended.
With Lankinen now in the mix, the Canucks are ensuring they have the goaltending depth necessary to support the team while Demko works his way back to full health, keeping their playoff hopes alive for the upcoming season.
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