Lankinen VS. Demko: Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Decides Who'll Be the Starting Goalie When Demko Returns

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Maverick Mitchell
November 27, 2024 (5:23 PM)

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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.

Additionally, per the Daily Hive

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.