Former backup for the Nashville Predators, Kevin Lankinen, made a decision to test free agency and get out from under Juuse Saros' shadow. To this point, that hasn't worked for Lankinen at all as he remains as one of the only unsigned goalies that should have gotten a contract already in the NHL. Lankinen wanted more and wasn't picked up by anyone yet, and it's been two months since free agency opened in 2024. Teams have their tandems in net all set, so the 3rd string role seems like the most likely outcome at this point. Not only will a role as the third goalie on a team limit playing time, it will limit money as well. The 29-year-old is coming off of two one-year deals with the Predators in which his cap hit was $1.5 million AAV and $2 million AAV. Despite his strong numbers as a backup, teams have mostly used up their cap space for the season, so I don't expect the ex-Predators goalie to get anything more than $1 million AAV on another one-year deal even though he's worth more. Nashville Predators goaltender Kevin Lankinen speaks to the media following the conclusion of the 2023-24 season. There are a few outcomes where Lankinen can be fortunate and get the adequate playing time to prove himself for a third season in a row. The first is that he does sign as a 3rd string on a team and something happens, like an injury to one of the top two goalies, and he takes a spot and runs with it. If not an injury, a more unlikely outcome of taking the backup role outright. Lankinen could also play well enough to warrant the team he signs with to run with three goalies off the bat. In that case, he could bide his time. He has proven he can take on the difficult matchups or play in the second half of a back-to-back regularly and still put up strong numbers in net. What could also happen is he signs with a team and does sink into the 3rd string role, being placed on waivers. In that case, any team has their shot at him and there's a decent likeliness that one of the other 31 teams is dealing with an injury of some sort to one of their top two goalies. The Finnish goalie posted a 20-14-1 record with a 2.79 GAA, .912 SV%, and one shutout as a Nashville Predator, but he did play very limited games for what he can bring to the table as he was a starter before that in Chicago in 2020-21. Lankinen should not go unsigned for much longer. He blew a great opportunity to stick with a team that majorly upgraded in the offseason in the hopes that he could eventually climb into a starter role. It has gone completely the other way and while a reunion with the Predators isn't off the table, it seems highly unlikely at this point. RECENT PREDATORS NEWS Podcast: Barry Trotz Stays the Course with Yaroslav Askarov Trade [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/podcasts/podcast-barry-trotz-stays-the-course-with-yaroslav-askarov-trade] 'Great Player, Great Leader, Great Friend': Lightning's Cernak on Predators' Steven Stamkos [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/great-player-great-leader-great-friend-lightnings-cernak-on-predators-steven-stamkos] Nobody May Be More Excited About Predators' Offseason Additions Than Saros & Carrier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/nobody-may-be-more-excited-about-predators-offseason-additions-than-saros-carrier] L'Heureux, Molendyk & More Headline Predators' 2024 Rookie Showcase Roster [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-news/lheureux-molendyk-more-headline-predators-2024-rookie-showcase-roster]
