Vancouver Canucks still pursuing Kevin Lankinen despite signing Ferguson PTO
Photo credit: AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson
The Vancouver Canucks are actively exploring options to solidify their goaltending roster with Thatcher Demko's status uncertain ahead of training camp.
The club has already invited Dylan Ferguson to camp on a professional tryout,, but they're still interested in free agent Kevin Lankinen.
With Thatcher Demko's participation in training camp still in question, the Canucks have ramped up their efforts to bolster their goalie depth. Arturs Silovs, who missed Team Latvia's Olympic qualifying tournament due to knee inflammation, appears to be back in form, but the team remains uncertain about Demko's health. This has prompted the Canucks to pursue multiple options as they aim to solidify their goaltending situation.
In preparation for camp, Vancouver extended a professional tryout (PTO) to goaltender Dylan Ferguson on Sunday night. According to several reports, the PTO serves to ensure enough goalie depth in case Demko is unable to participate.
«This PTO is to ensure they have enough goalies for training camp in case Thatcher Demko can't participate,» said Rick Dhaliwal. "Rick Tocchet wants six goalies for camp, and this move guarantees they will have six. Ferguson, 25, could be part of the training camp mix, but the Canucks are also seeking a more permanent solution."
One of Vancouver's primary targets remains free agent Kevin Lankinen, who played for the Nashville Predators last season. Despite offering him a contract earlier this summer, the Canucks have yet to meet the 29-year-old's salary expectations.
"This doesn't mean they're done with Lankinen. If they can agree on the money, they're still interested in bringing him in."
Lankinen posted an 11-6-0 record, with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in Nashville last season, making him one of the top remaining free-agent goaltenders on the market.
If Vancouver cannot come to terms with Lankinen, they are expected to head into the season with Arturs Silovs as the starter. The team also has several other goalies in the system, including Jiri Patera and Nikita Tolopilo, who could compete for backup roles, along with Ferguson, should he impress in camp.
As the Canucks continue to evaluate their options, time is running short with training camp approaching, and the preseason opener against the Seattle Kraken on September 24 at Rogers Arena.
This season's goaltending situation is critical for Vancouver's success, and how they address it over the coming days will be telling of their ambitions moving forward.
| POLL | ||
16 SEPTEMBRE | 60 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks still pursuing Kevin Lankinen despite signing Ferguson PTO Will the Vancouver Canucks sign Kevin Lankinen? | ||
| Yes | 24 | 40 % |
| No | 36 | 60 % |
| List of polls | ||
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