Betting on himself has paid off for Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen.

The 29-year-old Finn signed his first long-term NHL deal on Friday 91裸聊视频� a five-year extension with the Canucks. The contract carries an average annual value of US$4.5 million.

91裸聊视频淥bviously a good reward for all the hard work I kind of put in ever since I started playing hockey when I was three years old,91裸聊视频� he said of the deal. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really grateful for the commitment and the trust from the management, just to sign and how they kind of put faith in me not just for this year but the years to come.91裸聊视频�

Lankinen signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Canucks (26-18-11) as a free agent on Sept. 21, when training camps across the league were already well underway.

The six-foot-two, 190-pound goalie from Helsinki had spent the last two seasons with the Nashville Predators, backing up all-star Juuse Saros, and last summer, he wanted to find the right place to flourish. That meant turning down offers he felt weren91裸聊视频檛 the right fit.

91裸聊视频淚 felt like when I started talking with Vancouver, there was really something there,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o I kind of left the safe and familiar behind me and stepped into the unknown and made sure that the preparations were there. Whatever opportunity showed up, I was gonna be ready for it.91裸聊视频�

Midway through his first season with the Canucks, Lankinen has set career highs in wins (19) and shutouts (four).

He91裸聊视频檚 posted a 19-8-7 record, a 2.53 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage in 34 games. He also became the first goalie in NHL history to start a season 10-0-0 on the road.

91裸聊视频淜evin has done a great job for us in net this season,91裸聊视频� Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a release. 91裸聊视频淩ight from the start of the year, he has shown a strong desire to compete and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win hockey games. A good leader and teammate, we wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be in the position we are in right now without his strong play.91裸聊视频�

Vancouver signed Lankinen as a backup for star goalie Thatcher Demko but the 29-year-old American has repeatedly been sidelined by injuries this season.

Demko missed training camp and the beginning of the campaign with a knee injury, then sat out with back spasms before seeming to find his rhythm out of the Christmas break.

He91裸聊视频檚 played just 17 games through the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 6-6-3 record with a .891 save percentage, a 2.87 goals-against average and one shutout.

The 29-year-old goalie from San Diego, Calif., was hurt yet again on Feb. 8 in Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 2-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canucks announced on Tuesday that Demko is considered week to week with a lower-body injury and will not travel on the team91裸聊视频檚 upcoming five-game road swing, beginning Saturday against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas.

91裸聊视频淥bviously, (Demko91裸聊视频檚) been dealing with his own stuff, which can be really hard mentally. But he91裸聊视频檚 been super supportive ever since day one,91裸聊视频� Lankinen said. 91裸聊视频淗e was one of the first guys to text me today when they announced the contract, which kind of shows he91裸聊视频檚 a class act.91裸聊视频�

Working alongside Demko 91裸聊视频� a finalist for last season91裸聊视频檚 V茅zina Trophy, awarded annually to the league91裸聊视频檚 top netminder 91裸聊视频� has helped Lankinen grow his game.

91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 one of the best goalies in the world, he91裸聊视频檚 showed that over the years, and just seeing him from a close range and being able to learn from him has been awesome,91裸聊视频� Lankinen said. 91裸聊视频淚 think moving forward, it91裸聊视频檚 a good thing for me, where you91裸聊视频檙e going to push each other to get better. And I think that will help the team win in the long term.91裸聊视频�

After originally signing with the Chicago Blackhawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018, Lankinen has played 146 regular-season games with a 64-51-19 record across five seasons. He also suited up for Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off last week.

The milestones he91裸聊视频檚 hit this season are built on a career of hard work, Lankinen said.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been preparing for this opportunity for a long time,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭he trust and the faith in myself has always been there. So it91裸聊视频檚 not like I91裸聊视频檓 surprised in any way. I91裸聊视频檓 just happy I91裸聊视频檝e been able to showcase myself to the management and the coaches here and obviously the people around the world that I can be a top goalie in this league.91裸聊视频�