As the NHL offseason gains momentum, the Vancouver Canucks have found themselves in the spotlight. With the action on the ice paused, speculation surrounding goalie Thatcher Demko has emerged, adding an intriguing storyline to their summer plans.
Rumor has it, as reported by David Pagnotta, that Demko might be warming up to the idea of a fresh start elsewhere. This revelation is quite the departure from Canucks President Jim Rutherford's earlier statement where he candidly expressed a desire to extend Demko's contract.
So, what does this mean for the Canucks and Demko? Well, it introduces a potentially complex scenario.
If Demko and the Canucks aren't seeing eye-to-eye, he could become a valuable trade chip for a team looking to bolster their goaltending. Despite Demko's battle with injuries over the past couple of seasons, he's shown flashes of brilliance, maintaining a career .910 save percentage across 242 games.
Heading into the offseason in good health might just make him an attractive, albeit risky, proposition for goalie-hungry teams looking to shake things up in the crease.
Sliding over to other news in the Pacific Division, there’s been some coaching buzz around the Seattle Kraken. Despite ultimately choosing Lane Lambert as their new head coach, the Kraken reportedly drew interest from Luke Richardson, who formerly led the charge for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Although Bill Meltzer shared that Richardson was eyeing the Seattle position, it's unclear if he even made it to the interview stage. With only the Boston Bruins' and Pittsburgh Penguins' coaching positions left to fill, it remains to be seen if Richardson will land a gig in one of those prestigious spots, even though he’s not considered a top contender for either.
Meanwhile, up in Calgary, the Flames are recognizing the promise within their organization. Trent Cull, who has been instrumental in the development of players with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Calgary Wranglers, is stepping up to the big leagues.
After guiding the Wranglers to back-to-back playoff appearances, Cull will join the Flames as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season. This promotion underscores the Flames' commitment to cultivating talent internally and shows their confidence in Cull to translate his AHL success to the NHL.
As the offseason unfolds, these developments across the NHL, whether on the bench or in the crease, are setting the stage for an exciting build-up to the next season. Fans and analysts alike will have their eyes peeled, watching every trade, hire, and strategic move as teams prepare to battle it out come puck drop.
