NHL: Nashville Predators at New York Islanders - Source: Imagn — Canucks’ Rick Tocchet and Patrik Allvin are 'excited' to have Kevin Lankinen (Credits: IMAGN)

"He’s a good goaltender": Canucks’ Rick Tocchet and Patrik Allvin are 'excited' to have Kevin Lankinen

Modified Sep 22, 2024 14:05 GMT

The Vancouver Canucks added goaltender Kevin Lankinen for the upcoming season. The goalie agreed to a one-year deal with Vancouver that will cost the team $887,000. He provides good depth to the roster and that's something the front office is very pleased with.

Both Rick Tocchet, the head coach, and Patrik Allvin, the general manager, are pleased with the team's ability to buff up their goalie room with the addition of someone like Lankinen.

“Yeah, I mean, it just adds to the whole goalie department," Tocchet said via Canucks Army. "We’ve done a lot of film on him and he’s a good goaltender. We’re excited to have him. He picked our team cause he likes the way we play – he told Patrik that. That’s nice to hear. He’s a really good NHL goalie.”

Arturs Silovs, Nikita Tolopilo and Jiri Patera were the only other goaltenders on the Canucks' roster, so this signing was both necessary and will improve the team.

Patrik Allvin hypes up Kevin Lankinen

Patrik Allvin orchestrated the addition of Kevin Lankinen in goal, as he signed the player to the one-year deal. It's not a lengthy or lucrative contract, but it's one that Allvin believes will be advantageous for the team.

Kevin Lankinen has officially joined the Vancouver Canucks (Credits: IMAGN)

“Kevin is an experienced NHL player who will add to our depth in goal," Allvin said in a statement on Saturday. "He had a solid season last year in Nashville and has the size and skillset we like in a netminder. We look forward to getting him here to start working with our group.”

Lankinen has a lot of NHL experience and had a quality season with the Nashville Predators last year. He started in 24 games, winning 11 of them and had one shutout. He averaged 2.82 goals allowed and had a .908 save percentage.

For his career, the former Chicago Blackhawks star has a .905 save percentage, an average of 3.07 goals allowed, and 45 wins and three shutouts in 112 games played. He figures to get a lot of playing time with the Canucks, since they do not otherwise have a lot of depth.