The Vancouver Canucks this previous Friday introduced they’d signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen to a brand new five-year extension that carries a $4.5 million cap hit. Vancouver signed Lankinen simply earlier than the common season began as there was some uncertainty surrounding Thatcher Demko and the damage that plagued him in the course of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Lankinen has been an enormous purpose why the Canucks are within the playoff combine within the Western Convention. However there may be nonetheless a variety of drama popping out of Vancouver. Not solely is there the Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko state of affairs however what comes subsequent with Elias Pettersson?
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Though the Canucks might not be buying and selling Pettersson proper now, is that this one thing the workforce re-visits in the summertime? Just like Thatcher Demko, who’s eligible for an extension on July 1st. With the brand new extension for Lankinen, does this imply Demko’s time is up in Vancouver?
TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger was on the Flames Nation Podcast and was requested concerning the Demko-Lankinen state of affairs and the way the Canucks will proceed with that. Dreger additionally mentions the Canucks are on the lookout for a centerman and supplies an replace on what’s going on with Pettersson and the Canucks.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Host: “So Demko is up in a 12 months. He has one 12 months left at $5 million. There’s the damage stuff, however that is the summer season you’d lengthen him if he’s your man, proper? It sort of feels like they made the choice he’s not going to be their man. Like, you’ll be able to’t pay a backup 4 and a half. Demko, if he’s proper, goes to command seven to 10. It appears like this has been that you just’ve written the top of Demko as a Canuck into the subsequent 16 months.”
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Darren Dreger: “I don’t know that to be true, however the way in which you clarify it is sensible, and we’ve talked about that sort of privately as a bunch right here as properly. It does really feel like Vancouver is open to prospects, just about at each place, proper? I imply, we all know that they’re scouring on the lookout for a middle man. Final time we spoke, I feel we have been somewhat bit uncertain as to what the subsequent transfer could be with Elias Pettersson. Did you see him play for Sweden on the 4 Nations?
Like, look, I’m not burying the child. There’s nonetheless time left within the common season. He can nonetheless make an impression in locking issues down and perhaps make an impression within the postseason. But when he doesn’t, what does that let you know? You already know, that must be sufficient for Canucks administration to go could come again to burn us, if this man, unexpectedly finds his spark. However it doesn’t seem prefer it’s going to be in Vancouver, so we have to make the most of no matter asset he’s, and on prime of that, the cap area that comes together with the transaction we’re going to do.
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Now, I’m not saying that that is going to occur between now and March seventh, it’s potential, however you’ll be able to drift that into the low season after which retool, and perhaps that’s the place the Demko dialog is available in as properly.
However you higher get a goalie again. You’re going to wish one thing with somewhat bit extra stability except you’re feeling such as you’ve coated all of your bases up.”
NHLRumors.com Be aware: Look if the Canucks transfer on from Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko, they are going to want strong returns. Just like the J.T. Miller deal, the Canucks might not be profitable both of these offers. However you’ll be able to’t spend $11 million or extra in 2026-27 and past on goaltending even with the cap going up. The reason is half of that duo is all the time injured. So this deal for Lankinen was a backup plan with the longer term in thoughts. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how the Canucks present with Pettersson and Demko transferring ahead.
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