Once upon a time, the Chicago Blackhawks employed goaltender Kevin Lankinen. During those years, Chicago was trying to avoid a rebuild, so the patience to let him develop wasn’t where it needed to be.

Lankinen, 29, has appeared in 34 games with Vancouver this year, holding a record of 19-8-7 with a 2.53 goals-against average, a .905 save percentage, and four shutouts.

With Demko constantly in and out of the lineup, Canucks management had no choice but to lock up their stable new goaltender, Kevin Lankinen to a five-year extension, holding a $4.5 million AAV.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Kiefer Sherwood scored late in the third period, Kevin Lankinen stopped 37 shots and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Friday night.