A New Era of Goalie Competition in Vancouver
It’s been over a decade since the Vancouver Canucks experienced a goalie controversy as intense as the one between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider. The rivalry was so compelling that it was immortalized in a memorable TSN feature video. Fast forward to the present, and the Canucks find themselves in a similar situation, albeit with a different cast. Thatcher Demko, who has been the primary goaltender for the past four years, now faces competition from Kevin Lankinen, a 29-year-old who has made it clear he’s here to stay. Lankinen recently signed a five-year, $4.5 million contract extension, signaling a significant shift in the team’s goaltending landscape.
Lankinen’s Journey to Vancouver
Kevin Lankinen joined the Canucks last September on a one-year deal worth just $875,000, a move he made after training camp had already started. This decision was driven by the realization that Demko’s lingering knee injury would likely keep him sidelined for an extended period. Speaking to the media on Friday, Lankinen admitted that he had turned down other offers to join the Canucks, seeing it as a once-in-a-career opportunity to establish himself as a starter as he approaches his 30s. "I felt like, when we started talking with Vancouver, there was really something there," he said. "So I, kind of, left the safe and the familiar behind me and stepped into the unknown. And made sure that the preparation is there and whatever opportunity shows up, I’m going to be ready for it."
Lankinen’s Impact and Performance
By the time Demko returned to action on December 10, Lankinen had already appeared in 20 of Vancouver’s 26 games, posting a record of 13-4-3 with a respectable .908 save percentage. Since then, he has maintained a solid 6-5-4 record, becoming one of the Canucks’ most valuable players alongside defenseman Quinn Hughes. Lankinen’s 19 wins are a personal NHL career high, and he is just two games away from matching his career high of 37 games played, set with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020-21. Lankinen also represented Finland admirably at the 4 Nations Face-Off, helping secure a 4-3 overtime win against Sweden. Despite a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night, Lankinen’s performance kept the Canucks in the game, saving more than two goals above expected and giving his team a fighting chance until the final moments.
The Canucks’ Extended Commitment
Lankinen’s new contract is the third significant deal the Canucks have finalized this month, following extensions for Marcus Pettersson (six years) and Drew O’Connor (two years). With Thatcher Demko currently out week-to-week due to a new lower-body injury, Lankinen and his representatives had substantial leverage during negotiations. The contract includes no-move protection for the first two seasons and partial no-trade protection for the final three, ensuring that Lankinen cannot be traded without his consent until July 1, 2027. This long-term security is a clear indicator of the Canucks’ confidence in Lankinen’s ability and potential.
The Supportive Rivalry
Despite the competition for the top spot in the Canucks’ crease, Lankinen and Demko have maintained a strong, supportive relationship. "That’s just been great," Lankinen said about Demko. "Obviously, he’s been dealing with his own stuff, which can be really hard mentally, but he’s been super supportive ever since Day 1. He was one of the first guys to text me when they announced the contract, which kind of shows he’s a class act." Demko’s current deal expires in the summer of 2026, and while he could sign an extension this summer, the Canucks might take a wait-and-see approach, especially given ongoing health concerns. The dynamic between the two goalies could mirror the positive rivalry seen between Luongo and Schneider, and later between Markstrom and Demko, where both players pushed each other to improve and ultimately benefited the team.
Future Outlook and Team Dynamics
The Canucks have four games remaining on their current road trip, including two back-to-back sets. The decision on starting goaltenders remains to be seen, but Rick Tocchet, the team’s coach, hinted at the possibility of using Arturs Silovs, who has struggled to replicate his playoff magic from last spring. Silovs has been performing decently in the AHL with Abbotsford, posting a 10-4-0 record. Whether Silovs will get his first NHL start since November this week remains a question, as the Canucks will play in Utah on Sunday, visit the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, face the surging Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, and wrap up their road trip in Seattle next Saturday. The future of Vancouver’s goaltending tandem looks promising, with both Lankinen and Demko committed to pushing each other and helping the team achieve long-term success.
