<p>The <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">Vancouver Canucks</a> <a href="https://x.com/Canucks/status/1892967523491926381">announced</a> Friday that the club has signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a five-year extension that carries a $4.5-million annual average value.</p>



<p>In his first season with the Canucks, the 29-year-old netminder has made 34 appearances in which he has posted a 19-8-7 record alongside a .905 save percentage, 2.54 goals-against average, and four shutouts. Along the way, Lankinen set an NHL record in becoming the first goaltender to begin a season with 10 consecutive road victories.</p>



<p>Lankinen rejoins the Canucks this weekend following his recent appearance with Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off where through two outings he went 1-1-0 with an .811 save percentage and 4.83 goals-against average.</p>



<p>Originally signing with the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/chicago-blackhawks/line-combinations">Chicago Blackhawks</a> in 2018 as an undrafted free agent, Lankinen has seen 146 career contests counting stops with the Blackhawks, <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/nashville-predators/line-combinations">Nashville Predators</a>, and Canucks in which he has established a 64-51-19 record with a .905 save percentage, 2.94 goals-against average, and seven shutouts.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="159"></div>



<p>Lankinen joined the Canucks in September, agreeing to a <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/kevin-lankinen">one-year, $875,000 deal</a> in the waning days of unrestricted free agency. As part of the Predators in 2023-24, Lankinen went 11-6-0 through 24 appearances in which he posted a .908 save percentage, 2.82 goals-against average, and one shutout.</p>



<p>Lankinen’s contract extension comes on the heels of a <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/vancouver-canucks-thatcher-demko-out-week-to-week-with-lower-body-injury">Tuesday report</a> indicating that Canucks starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is sidelined on a week-to-week basis due to a lower-body ailment. The 29-year-old has battled injury challenges in recent years, highlighted by his 12-game absence during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs and the first 24 games to begin the current campaign. Per <a href="https://puckpedia.com/player/thatcher-demko">PuckPedia</a>, Demko is in the fourth year of a five-year contract that carries a $5-million annual average value.</p>



<p>With the 4 Nations Face-Off now wrapped up, the Canucks will return to action Saturday against the <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/vegas-golden-knights/line-combinations">Vegas Golden Knights</a>. On the season, the Canucks sit 26-18-11 to hold down the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference with 63 points.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="166"></div>
