Explained: Free-agent goaltender Kevin Lankinen rejects offer from Vancouver Canucks and we officially know why

Thatcher Demko and Arturs Silovs are both nursing injuries that will keep them out of the Vancouver Canucks’ starting lineup this season.

Both of these goaltenders are starting-caliber netminders, making the situation even more dire for Vancouver. At this point, the team is looking for goalkeepers to fit into their system. They need someone, and the market is now barren. However, they believed they had a goaltender in Kevin Lankinen, who had previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Nashville Predators.

Lankinen was reportedly offered less than $1 million for one year. Lankinen, on the other hand, is unwilling to accept anything less than $1 million in compensation. As a result, he declined the offer, and the Canucks go back to the drawing board.

Lankinen may not receive any better NHL offers. His career record is 43-45-12, with a goals-against average of 3.07. His save percentage isn’t much better, just above 90%. Having said that, the Canucks might just be better off with someone else. The main difficulty here is that there aren’t many competent goalkeepers available right now.