Newly signed Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen has officially chosen to wear jersey number 32 for the 2024-25 season, his first season with the Canucks.
The announcement, which the Canucks made on Monday afternoon, signalled the start of Lankinen’s tenure in a Canucks uniform. Though he only signed for one season amidst a cloudy Thatcher Demko injury situation, he was a much-needed signing to bolster the goaltending department.
The choice of number 32 isn’t all that surprising, as Lankinen has worn the same number in all four of his years in the NHL. After debuting with the Chicago Blackhawks with number 34, Lankinen promptly switched to #32 shortly after the start of his rookie season in 2020-21. He emerged as Chicago’s starter that year, finishing with 17 wins and an impressive .909 save percentage. The 29-year-old Finnish netminder signed a one-year, $875,000 contract with Vancouver on September 21st and will look to prove his abilities to goalie-needy teams as he pushes for a new contract in his fifth NHL season.
Lankinen served as the backup behind Juuse Saros in Nashville for the last two seasons, posting a record of 11-6-0, a 2.82 goals-against average, a .908 save percentage, and one shutout last season. He put up a respectable .909 save percentage behind a questionable Blackhawks defensive core during his tenure with the team, and overall, he has a .905 save percentage with three shutouts across 112 career NHL games. He also brings international experience, having led Finland to victory in the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Lankinen will look to make a memorable impression with 32 on his back in Vancouver, with the most recent players to wear the number for the Canucks being Dale Weise and Richard Bachman. 18 players have worn the number 32 for the Canucks, including Arturs Irbe, Brad May, and Jim Agnew. According to Hockey Reference, just three of the 18 players to wear the number wore it for than one season in Vancouver: Murray Craven, Dale Weise, and Richard Bachman.