The Vancouver Canucks and goaltender Kevin Lankinen agreed to a five-year, $22.5 million contract extension on Friday.
Lankinen, 29, has stepped up in place of the injured Thatcher Demko, posting a 19-8-7 record with four shutouts, a 2.53 goals-against average and .905 save percentage over 34 games this season.
That’s quite the return on investment for Lankinen, who signed a one-year, $875,000 contract in September.
“Kevin has done a great job for us in net this season,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “Right from the start of the year, he has shown a strong desire to compete and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win hockey games. A good leader and teammate, we wouldn’t be in the position we are in right now without his strong play.”
Undrafted to begin his career, Lankinen has a 64-51-19 record with seven shutouts, a 2.94 GAA and .905 save percentage in 146 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators and Canucks.
Lankinen represented his native Finland at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off.