Lankinen VS. Demko: Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Decides Who'll Be the Starting Goalie When Demko Returns
Photo credit: Canucks Daily
It seems like Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has already mind up his mind on who he wants to be the starting goalie when Thatcher Demko returns from his knee injury.
When general manager Patrik Allvin signed goaltender
Kevin Lankinen this offseason, no one would have expected him to be one of the NHL's best goalies this season.
As it turns out, he has been the Canucks MVP so far.
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet decides between Thatcher Demko & Kevin Lankinen
Thatcher Demko has been on the sidelined with injury still he went down in the first-round of last years playoffs.
In order to fill the hole left by the Vezina Caliber netminder, The 29-year-old Kevin Lankinen has stepped in and stole the show.
With Thatcher Demko set to return as soon as this current road trip, the conversation about who will be the starter of the Canucks has started, and head coach Rick Tocchet has a strong opinion.
«He's playing very well,» said head coach Rick Tocchet last night. «He's been great for us so he's going to continue to play for us.»
«He's not going to sit on the bench, I'm nuts if I sit him on the bench. He's been terrific.»
Lankinen has achieved a 10-3-2 record, a 0.909 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average.
The Finnish netminder has elevated his play away from Rogers Arena and boasts a perfect 8-0-0 road record. He's just the fifth goalie in NHL history to begin a season with eight straight wins away from home.
Lankinen's stellar play has made it so
Demko doesn't need to rush his recovery, but that could be a different story for Demko who doesn't want to lose his job as the team go to guy between the pipes.
Previously on CanucksDaily
POLL |
NOVEMBRE 27 | 420 ANSWERS Lankinen VS. Demko: Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Decides Who'll Be the Starting Goalie When Demko Returns Do you want Thatcher Demko or Kevin Lankinen as the Vancouver Canucks starting goalie? |
Thatcher Demko | 252 | 60 % |
Kevin Lankinen | 168 | 40 % |
List of polls |
|
4 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Western Conference Team Emerges as Front Runner to Land Brock Boeser |
|
6 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Vancouver Canucks Reveal Brand New Lineup for Tonight's Game Vs Colorado Avalanche |
|
8 hours ago | By Cooper Godin NHL Insider Reveals Vancouver Canucks' Next Priority on the Trade Market |
|
9 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell Quinn Hughes' Agent Pat Brisson Breaks Silence on Speculation Surrounding Hughes' Future with the Canucks |
|
10 hours ago | By Owen Fullerton Vancouver Canucks Announce the Arrival of Three Players Today, Including New Top Prospect Defenseman |
|
11 hours ago | By Cooper Godin Unfortunate News Strikes Carson Soucy as the Vancouver Canucks Have Officially Made A Decision |
|
12 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell It Looks Like the Vancouver Canucks Have Found Their Replacement for J.T. Miller |
|
13 hours ago | By Maverick Mitchell "Not happy with him" - Vancouver Canucks Reportedly Not Pleased with Elias Pettersson Post J.T. Miller Trade |