Kahkonen vs Lankinen

[Huokaus]

Two young Finnish goalies (Kähkönen 24, Lankinen 25) that have gotten a decent bit of responsibility this year. I think Kähkönen was more highly touted as a prospect, while Lankinen kinda came out of nowhere, backstopping a no-name Team Finland to a World Championship win in 2019.

Kahkonen this year: 7 wins, 4 regulation losses, 0 overtime losses, 2.37 GAA, .917 SV%
Lankinen this year: 8 wins, 3 regulation losses, 3 overtime losses, 2.59 GAA, .921 SV%

I know I'm kinda asking two questions here but which one do you think is better and who do you take going forward?

Click to read more...

 

[AKL]

Expecting Lankinen to get more votes because he's more visible, but I wouldn't trade Kahkonen for Lankinen.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Kahkonen quite easily, even though I'm biased. AHL goalie of the year last year. More pedigree to this point. I'm not gonna change my stance because Lankinen has marginally better stats through a quarter of a shortened season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Kahkonen is at least a quality NHL back up. Lankinen might not be an NHL goalie. Kahkonen and it’s not that close.

 

[Machinehead]

Gotta go with Kaapo Kakko. Very impressive that he plays wing and goalie.

 

[Dr Salt]

King Kevin

 

[ijuka]

I think that it's a bit of a tough one. Lankinen might have the better stats this year, but Kähkönen has the seppä factor.

 

[Albatros]

Kahkonen quite easily, even though I'm biased. AHL goalie of the year last year. More pedigree to this point. I'm not gonna change my stance because Lankinen has marginally better stats through a quarter of a shortened season.

In terms of pedigree AHL goalie of the year > MVP of World Champions?

 

[SotasicA]

I haven't seen enough of Kahkonen. Highlights only. How many actually watch both these teams' games?

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Lankinen has given Chicago a chance to win every game and was MVP in 2019. Kähkönen was good but not great in WJC 2016.

 

[AKL]

Lankinen has given Chicago a chance to win every game and was MVP in 2019. Kähkönen was good but not great in WJC 2016.

Kahkonen has given Minnesota a chance to win every game and was goaltender of the year in 2020. Lankinen was an ECHL goalie in 2019.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Kahkonen has given Minnesota a chance to win every game and was goaltender of the year in 2020. Lankinen was an ECHL goalie in 2019.

Perhaps, but he was a wall against star powered Russia and Canada and led no-name team Finland to a gold medal.

 

[MuckOG]

Perhaps, but he was a wall against star powered Russia and Canada and led no-name team Finland to a gold medal.

...and Kahkonen also took down Canada and Russia to win WJC gold in 2015-2016 for Finland.

 

[Albatros]

...and Kahkonen also took down Canada and Russia to win WJC gold in 2015-2016 for Finland.

He was a complementary piece behind a great team, Lankinen dragged a team of nobodies to gold.

 

[McDNicks17]

Kahkonen is at least a quality NHL back up. Lankinen might not be an NHL goalie. Kahkonen and it’s not that close.

Huh?

 

[AKL]

Huh?

Do you remember Andrew Hammond?

 

[McDNicks17]

Do you remember Andrew Hammond?

That's like saying Kahkonen might not be an NHL goalie because remember AHL goalie of the year, Garret Sparks?

 

[AKL]

That's like saying Kahkonen might not be an NHL goalie because remember AHL goalie of the year, Garret Sparks?

Yeah he might not be. Guess we'll find out.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

That's like saying Kahkonen might not be an NHL goalie because remember AHL goalie of the year, Garret Sparks?

Compare their career track records. Kahkonen’s is pretty good, even if he isn’t flashy or incredibly hyped. Lankinen’s is inconsistent, at best, for a low level prospect that no one projected to be an NHL’er as recently as two months ago.

 

[CallMeShaft]

The top is Lankinen, the bottom is KK. Note: tonight's game against Detroit where Lankinen got a .957 save percentage is not included.

Big difference with these stats is GSAA (goals saved above average). Lankinen is 3.9 points higher in that regard. He also possesses a better save percentage (which is now at .924 with tonight taken into account). KK does have a bit better of a GAA (goals against average), though.

Statistically, Lankinen has been better so far. Can he still turn into the Hamburglar like another poster mentioned? Sure. But Kaapo isn't a sure thing either.

 

[LaMasquerade]

Although I'm eternally thankful for Lankinen for what he did in WHC '19 for us, my vote goes to Kähkönen.