Details of Kevin Lankinen’s Contract with the Canucks
While Kevin Lankinen’s contract may not be financially substantial, he is still in a favorable position with the Vancouver Canucks.
Ideally, the Canucks would start the 2024-25 season with Thatcher Demko as their starting goaltender, effectively supported by Arturs Silovs. However, as is common in professional sports, the situation is more complicated.
Demko’s recent media appearance left many interpretations regarding his health, but it’s clear from the Canucks’ standpoint that he won’t be ready for their home opener against the Calgary Flames on October 9.
Consequently, the Canucks needed to secure temporary relief while waiting for Demko’s return, leading them to sign Lankinen, as announced by the team on Saturday.
Lankinen’s Financial Sacrifice
The contract is for one year, which was anticipated during the Canucks’ pursuit of Lankinen. What surprised some was its team-friendly value of $875,000. The delay in finalizing the deal was reportedly due to Lankinen’s desire for a higher salary, considering he earned $2 million last season and $1.5 million the year before.
Ultimately, Lankinen settled, likely realizing that better offers were unlikely, especially as NHL training camps began. At some point, he had to accept the available offer rather than risk not playing at all.
Other Benefits of the Deal
While Lankinen might not have secured the financial terms he wanted, he gained a significant advantage in another aspect. According to PuckPedia, his contract includes an eight-team no-trade clause, marking the first time in his NHL career that he has such a provision. Though he may have preferred a higher salary, this clause provides him with some control over his situation this season.
It will be interesting to see how this no-trade clause plays out as the season unfolds, especially if the Canucks can get Demko back in the lineup and keep him healthy.
What Happens When Demko Returns?
Another important consideration is who will be the odd one out when Demko returns. Since Silovs represents the younger, long-term option, Lankinen might be the one sidelined. However, Silovs has one more season of waiver exemption left, which means he could be sent down to Abbotsford without risk of losing him.
If Silovs outperforms Lankinen in Demko’s absence, the Canucks could choose to trade Silovs, which brings us back to Lankinen’s no-trade clause.
These developments create an intriguing set of potential scenarios as the season progresses. For now, the Canucks need to hope for Demko’s swift return while Lankinen and Silovs manage the goaltending duties in the meantime.
