NHL makes big prediction involving Vancouver Canucks netminder Kevin Lankinen

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Cooper Godin
October 30, 2024 (12:45)

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NHL.com has made a big prediction involving Vancouver Canucks netminder Kevin Lankinen.

Best-on-best international hockey is returning to the calendar in February as Montreal's Bell Centre and TD Garden in Boston host the 4 Nations Face-Off, which is feature Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is the first best-on-best international event since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and it's set to be a nice warmup before National Hockey League players return to the Winter Olympics in 2026.

Kevin Lankinen projected to be on Finland's roster

NHL.com senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke, staff writer Tracey Myers and nhl.com/fi correspondent Sami Haapasalo have all come together for the third time to take a crack at projecting Finland's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The rosters are set to be submitted to the National Hockey League by December 2nd and some players are making a strong case for their inclusion, including Kevin Lankinen.

Roarke, Myers and Haapasalo all believe that Kevin Lankinen will be on Finland's roster for the tournament. Roarke went as far as saying that Lankinen could battle Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Buffalo Sabres for the backup role behind Juuse Saros.

"Lankinen, Saros' former backup now with the Canucks, has started fast, worked his way into the mix and could battle Luukkonen for the backup job." Roarke said.

The Helsinki native is no stranger to representing his country on the international stage. He made his senior men's debut at the 2019 IIHF World Hockey Championship where he raised plenty of eyebrows with how he played. Lankinen was given the starting role by head coach Jukka Jalonen and he led Finland to their first gold medal at the World Championship since 2011, sporting a .942 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average along the way in eight games.

Lankinen, 29, officially signed with the officially signed with the Vancouver Canucks a few days after training camp opened following weeks of rumours that he'd be joining the team. So far, the signing of Lankinen is turning out to be a great one for Patrik Allvin. In six games, Lankinen has a record of 4-0-2 with a 2.29 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and one shutout.

We'll have to wait and see if the Finnish Ice Hockey Association decides to name Kevin Lankinen to their roster, but it wouldn't be a shock to anyone if he is, given how well he's playing for the Canucks right now.