Insider says Canucks have eyes on free agent goaltender Kevin Lankinen

PUBLICATION

Cooper Godin
August 22, 2024 (7:48 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

An insider has given an update on the Vancouver Canucks' search for goaltending help after a recent report suggested that Thatcher Demko isn't 100% healthy just yet.

Earlier this week, a report came out that said Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko still isn't 100% healthy after sustaining back-to-back injuries to his knee in the latter stages of the regular season and in the first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Because of this, the Canucks are taking a look at the free agent goaltending market to see what their options are, that way they don't have to start the season with a tandem of Arturs Silovs and Jiri Patera, if Thatcher Demko isn't ready to go.

On Thursday, Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali provided an update on the Canucks' search for goaltending help and said that the team has made 29-year-old Kevin Lankinen their target.

However, Dhaliwal said that it may be difficult for the Canucks to pull off the signing of Kevin Lankinen due to their salary cap situation and that he's coming off two solid seasons with the Nashville Predators, earning $2 million during the 2023-24 campaign.

Lankinen, a native of Helsinki, Finland, made the move to North America in 2018 after signing an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent. He spent four seasons in the Blackhawks organization before signing with the Nashville Predators as a UFA in 2022.

Last season, Lankinen appeared in 22 games for Nashville where he had a record of 11-6-0 along with a 2.82 goals against average, a .908 save percentage and one shutout.

With training camps opening around the National Hockey League in less than a month, Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin has a tough decision to make on his goaltending situation, but if the report is true, that Thatcher Demko isn't 100%, then it would make sense to go out and sign someone, even if it's just on a PTO to start.