The Vancouver Canucks have gotten themselves a superb goalie in Kevin Lankinen. As NHLRumors.com has documented, Lankinen has been an amazing worth signing for the Canucks with Thatcher Demko out resulting from harm and Arturs Silvos not enjoying as much as his playoff efficiency of a yr in the past.
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So it begs the query, why is Lankinen not a starter within the NHL, and will he flip his efficiency with the Canucks, particularly whether it is saved up, right into a starter’s position with one other NHL staff this low season.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet was on Sirius XM NHL Community Radio with Gord Stellick and Scott Laughlin and acknowledged that Kevin Lankinen was searching for a starter’s position this previous low season however needed to take a step again and could possibly be the following Anthony Stolarz.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
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Gord Stellick: “My query is, very often, we take a look at the large, huge issues that occur, and we don’t ignore the little issues. And very often, the little issues are huge issues. And right here, right here’s the tie in with Lankinen He did an actual strong job final yr because the backup goaltender in Nashville now, who’s making $2 million. So on July 2nd, all of it acquired dwarfed, with (Steven) Stamkos and everybody else coming that they signed. Scott Wedgewood for $1.5 million per season.
After which September twenty first Lankinen will get $875,000 to go to Vancouver. Now was Lankinen attempting to get huge. Like why would they not signal him for 1.5 or did Lankinen really feel he have leverage and actually blow issues? And mainly was determined to go wherever.
As a result of I’m considering, why would he, he was a strong backup in Nashville, and why did they go in some course? I do know backup goaltenders aren’t the distinction makers, however very often, these little issues as Wedgewood hasn’t performed nice. (Juuse) Saros has. Wedgwood stats to this point aren’t good within the backup position.”
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Elliotte Friedman: “Effectively, I feel there’s a few issues there. It’s an amazing query. Gordie, I feel there’s a few issues there. Primary, I feel Lankinen was searching for a better alternative. As soon as Saros signed that huge extension. I feel he noticed the writing on the wall that it was Saros’s job. So I can’t fault Lankinen for that. I do know that one of many issues that Lankinen actually regarded for was, have been there going to be locations the place there was a route to begin?
And I heard one of many groups that form of checked out him was Anaheim. We knew Anaheim was attempting to maneuver (John) Gibson, and I feel they have been hoping that they have been going to have the ability to transfer Gibson. And I feel that Lankinen form of waited to see if one thing would occur there. As a result of if Gibson had been dealt he may have gone and fashioned a duo with (Lukas) Dostal and Dostal is a hell of a goalie. He’s going to be a superb goalie for a very long time, however Lankinen would have performed extra.
And on the finish, I feel Lankinen simply waited and waited and waited to see if one thing opened up for him. And the very best alternative was Vancouver, and what it may find yourself being, Gordie is simply stepping again to take just a little step ahead now with the job he’s performed right here and Silvos is waiver-eligible. So except Vancouver desires to hold three, that’s going to be an issue for him.
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To me, it form of jogs my memory just a little little bit of Stolarz. Now, after final yr, the yr that Stolarz had in Florida, he parlayed it into a greater scenario for himself when it comes to beginning, and possibly that’s possibly we see on the finish of this season, Lankinen takes the chance and runs with it someplace else.”
Up to now, his file with Vancouver is 10-3-2, with a 2.56 GAA and a .909 save share. If Kevin Lankinen retains this up, he may get an identical contract to Stolarz this offseason.
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