For goaltenders, unpredictability is kryptonite. So the Vancouver Canucks have poisoned their goalies this season.
As the National Hockey League team veered dramatically towards a rebuild, the Canucks’ erratic play and inconsistent defending made it difficult for anyone to play in net. Any hope for this season ended when the only Vancouver goalie capable of being Superman, Thatcher Demko, was re-injured in November and eventually underwent major hip surgery.
Kevin Lankinen never stood a chance.
But the unpredictable environment in which he played still doesn’t fully explain the backup goalie’s underperformance this season and a statistical cratering that puts the 30-year-old near the bottom of the NHL, which is where the Canucks are, too.
Starting a five-year, $22.5-million contract he signed last season, when Lankinen rescued the Canucks during Demko’s absence, the veteran Finn has won only seven of 33 starts while posting an .877 save percentage that ranks 55th among 61 goaltenders who have played at least 20 games.
Fancier stats, like goals-saved above expected, from various analytics websites also place Lankinen near the bottom of the NHL.
Lankinen has been dealing with a private family issue that caused him to take a brief leave of absence in November.
His last win was Jan. 21.
But Lankinen returned last month from the Olympics with a bronze medal and positive feelings after backing up Team Finland starter Juuse Saros, and last week put together his best consecutive Canuck starts this season.
After watching minor-league callup Nikita Tolopilo start the last two games, Lankinen will be back in net Tuesday against the Florida Panthers at Rogers Arena with plenty still to play for this season.
“First and foremost, we need to win more games,” Lankinen said after Monday’s practice. “And that’s my job as a goalie for the Vancouver Canucks — to help the team win. And we haven’t been winning enough, and I’m a big part of the team, and I take responsibility for that. I take it seriously.
“But at the same time, behind the results, there’s always a lot of things that maybe the crowd doesn’t always see, like how much work we put in this year, how much my game actually has improved even though the results might have not been there yet. But that’s sometimes how it goes with progress and development; it maybe shows later on. The past couple of games, I have been feeling really good.”
Lankinen stopped 55 of 59 shots last week during a 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators and a 3-2 overtime setback against the Winnipeg Jets. Finally showing signs of last season’s form, he probably should have been back in goal on Saturday when Tolopilo was beaten five times on 33 shots by the Seattle Kraken.
But Canucks coach Adam Foote explained Monday that he felt he owed Tolopilo another start after the 25-year-old prospect helped his team rally in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout win against the Nashville Predators.
Foote agreed that the defensive environment around Lankinen has worked against him this season, but, interestingly, explained that Lankinen’s size (six-foot-two) versus Demko’s (six-foot-four) probably exacerbated the problem because he needs to move farther to cover the same space.
And if Lankinen doesn’t trust the defending in front of him, he has to guess when the puck might be passed across him.
“I think it’s harder for him,” Foote said. “For me, it’s logic (and) I’m not saying anything anyone doesn’t know: he’s not as big as Demko. So he needs some predictability, right? So if he doesn’t feel it, he might go, ‘I can’t get over there in time, so I’m going to have to go a little bit earlier.’ Whereas one push from Demko, as a bigger man, could cover that space. Because you don’t trust that that pass will be taken care of backdoor, you might go early (across your crease) and then they get the short side. That’s just an example.”
Foote said he and Lankinen have spoken about the defensive environment and trusting his teammates.
“We had a good discussion about it, and he’s just got to worry about his game,” the coach said. “There was other things that happened family-wise that have gotten a lot better for him as well. You know, he’s in a way better space now.”
Lankinen came home from the Olympics in a better space.
“Not just being there, but bringing home a medal is something you dream about,” he said. “You kind of work your whole career for that moment to make the team, and then when you’re there, you’re willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win, right? Just being part of that group and bringing home a medal for our country means so much.
“It would have been cool to (play games at the Olympics), but at the same time, like, I’m not in a position to make that decision. Being a good teammate and representing your country, you’re just willing to do whatever it takes to win. My role was to be the backup and support the team in other ways.”
Always professional and accountable, Lankinen has that same mindset with the Canucks.
He understands that the organization needs to find out what it has in Tolopilo, who started seven of the last 13 games.
“I’m trying to be the supportive, good team leader for him and for the younger group here,” Lankinen told Sportsnet. “So, a little bit of a new role, and I embrace that.
“It comes back to, like, me wanting to be in the net every single night and help us get on track. But us being where we are (in the standings) and being in a rebuilding situation, it’s only fair that the younger guys get an opportunity to showcase themselves, just like I got my opportunity one day to break into the NHL. I want to be a fully supportive teammate.”
Lankinen also wants to be part of the rebuild.
Eventually, Canucks management must decide whether it makes sense to rebuild with a pair of 30-year-old goalies whose combined cap hit is $13 million. (Demko’s new three-year deal at $8.5-million starts next season). But Lankinen doesn’t want to go anywhere.
“One hundred per cent, I’m fully committed,” he said. “I want to be part of the change. I want to be part of the leadership group here and start a new culture. I feel like this organization needs to set a high standard for the younger guys, but also for the older guys. And I love the City of Vancouver. I love everything we’re doing here, and I can’t really see myself anywhere else right now.
“With us being where we are, every night is a great challenge. But at the same time, it’s a great opportunity to carry the load and carry the team as well, and show some leadership and make sure that we are part of the solution and not part of the problem. Our job as players is to adjust and show up and make sure we are doing what we’re asked to do. And this year, obviously, with the rebuilding stuff, it’s not only about winning tomorrow’s game. We’re building something bigger. We’re building a culture and setting a standard for us and for the next generation of players to come.”
ICE CHIPS — A healthy scratch the last two games, winger Nils Hoglander will be back in the lineup against Florida, Foote said. Recent waiver pickup Curtis Douglas appeared to be the extra forward on Monday — the Canucks’ only extra skater — although Foote also had a lengthy conversation at the end of practice with Max Sasson. … Defenceman Elias Pettersson (Junior) had his second straight practice since leaving Saturday’s game in the second period due to injury. …The key change among forwards was Jake DeBrusk moving to the first line from the fourth, while Evander Kane went the opposite way.