Vancouver Canucks Ink Former Blackhawks Netminder to Long-Term Extension
Photo credit: NHL
Can you imagine where the Vancouver Canucks would be this season without former Blackhawks goaltender Kevin Lankinen?
The 29-year old goaltender was a last-second pickup during training camp, and he turned out to be a game-changer.
The Canucks must think so too, because they just announced hefty five-year contract extension with a cool $4.5 million annual salary.
The deal also comes with a whopping $8.5 million in signing bonuses, for reference, that is more than double of Petr Mrazek's salary [$3.85 million] with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Back in late September, the Canucks signed Lankinen to a one-year steal of a deal at $875,000.
The Canucks were hit with the injury bug with their starting goaltender, Thatcher Demko, who has been sidelined for quite some time now.
Lankinen has been a rock between the pipes for the Canucks, despite a rough season [organization wise].
He's started 34 games - 10 more than his previous career high - and he's racked up a 19-8-7 record. His .905 save percentage and 2.53 goals against average are new career-records, alongside his four shutouts.
Lankinen made NHL history as the first goalie to kick off a season with ten straight away wins.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin commented on the organizations signing in a statement issued by the Canucks on Friday morning
«Kevin has done a great job for us in net this season,» said GM Patrik Allvin. «Right from the start of the year, he has shown a strong desire to compete and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win hockey games. A good leader and teammate, we wouldn't be in the position we are in right now without his strong play.»
Despite a rollercoaster of a season in Vancouver, Lankinen has been the glue keeping things together.
In a Blackhawks fans point of view, it is great to see Lankinen ink security at the NHL level.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 21 | 103 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Ink Former Blackhawks Netminder to Long-Term Extension Do you think Kevin Lankinen has what it takes to be a starting goalie at the NHL level? | ||
| Yes | 56 | 54.4 % |
| Too early to tell | 35 | 34 % |
| No way | 12 | 11.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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