Goaltender Kevin Lankinen declines Canadian team's offer for baffling reason
Photo credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson
The Vancouver Canucks are in a tight spot after their reported one-year contract offer to free agent goalie Kevin Lankinen was rejected, deepening their goaltender crisis.
The Canucks are currently facing a challenging situation with their goaltending depth. Thatcher Demko, the team's star goalie, sustained an injury last season that isn't surgically repairable. Instead, he will undergo physical therapy to manage the injury throughout his career. The severity of the injury remains unclear, and while Demko hopes to return, it's uncertain if he can perform at his previous level. This uncertainty has pushed the Canucks to explore alternative goaltending options for the start of the season.
One of the options the Canucks considered was Finnish netminder Antti Raanta, but he recently announced his decision to return to Europe, effectively ending his NHL career. This development left Vancouver in further disarray, as Raanta's departure eliminated a reliable veteran option.
The Canucks reportedly turned their attention to fellow Finn, Kevin Lankinen. However, the negotiations haven't gone in the Canucks' favor either. Lankinen, 29, rejected the team's offer, which was reportedly under $1 million for one year.
The #Canucks 🇨🇦 have reportedly offered goaltender Kevin Lankinen (@kevinlankinen) 🇫🇮 a one-year deal at under $1M AAV - but the Finnish netminder is not inclined to settle for under $1M.
Lankinen, 29, went 11-6-0 with a .908 SV% and 5.56 GSAx with the Nashville Predators (NHL) 🇺🇸 last season.
Lankinen, 29, went 11-6-0 with a .908 SV% and 5.56 GSAx with the Nashville Predators (NHL) 🇺🇸 last season.
Lankinen, who posted solid numbers with the Nashville Predators last season, feels his performance merits a contract worth at least $1 million.
Considering Lankinen's solid stats from last season, including an 11-6-0 record and a .908 save percentage, his request for a higher salary seems reasonable. However, the Canucks are facing a tight financial situation with limited cap space, making every dollar count and complicating their ability to meet Lankinen's demands without making further adjustments.
Despite his rejection, Lankinen might find his options limited. Most NHL teams have already settled their goaltending positions for the upcoming season, leaving him with fewer opportunities. Whether the Canucks increase their offer or Lankinen eventually accepts the deal remains to be seen.
For now, the Canucks are left scrambling, and fans will be keeping a close eye on developments in the coming days.
| POLL | ||
15 SEPTEMBRE | 120 ANSWERS Goaltender Kevin Lankinen declines Canadian team's offer for baffling reason Do you think Kevin Lankinen will eventually set aside his pride and accept the Canucks' offer? | ||
| Yes | 59 | 49.2 % |
| No | 61 | 50.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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