The Tampa Bay Lightning could have used this goaltender.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, it is fair to argue that the Tampa Bay Lightning could use more goalie depth. While they have a superstar starter in Andrei Vasilevskiy, they would benefit by adding another potential option for the backup role.
However, unfortunately for the Lightning, the best goalie who was left on the free-agent market has now found his new home.
Kevin Lankinen has signed a one-year, $875,00 contract with the Vancouver Canucks.
Lankinen, 29, could have been an excellent backup goalie for the Lightning to bring in. He has shown over the last few seasons that he works well in the role, and this remained the case during this past campaign. In 24 games last season with the Nashville Predators, he had an 11-6-0 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 2.82 goals-against average.
With numbers like these, Lankinen would have given the Lightning an upgrade at the backup position. However, he will now be a solid part of the Canucks' roster as they look to build off their successful 2022-23 season.
In 112 career NHL games split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Predators, Lankinen has a 45-43-12 record, a 3.07 GAA, and a .905 SV%.
