Thatcher Demko’s path back to the crease is still cloudy, and that’s the latest concern for a Canucks team that has already spent far too much time without its No. 1 goaltender.
Demko has been limited to just 43 games over the last couple of years, and a midseason hip injury eventually led to surgery. At the time, then-GM Patrik Allvin said there was optimism the procedure would put Demko in position to be fully ready for training camp. That no longer looks like a sure thing.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman recently said on an NHL Network appearance that there is no firm timeline for Demko’s return. CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal added on a recent Canucks Conversation appearance that Demko is working out and doing on-ice work, but it remains unclear whether he’ll be ready for the start of camp.
For Vancouver, there’s no reason to force the issue. With the team in the middle of a full-scale rebuild, the Canucks can afford to let Demko come back only when he’s fully cleared, even if that means the wait stretches into the season.
The good news is that Kevin Lankinen gives them a veteran option who can handle a heavier early-season load. The 31-year-old has made 92 starts over his two seasons with the Canucks and has posted a 3.12 GAA and a .889 SV%, numbers that are below average but still respectable considering the situation. Nikita Tolopilo also gives them another short-term option after appearing in 21 games last season if Demko needs more time before the regular season begins late next month.
Demko is also entering the first season of a new three-year, $25.5MM deal, which already carries plenty of weight. Vancouver has made a major financial commitment, so patience makes the most sense here.
The hope is that this becomes the last extended absence he has to deal with. For now, though, his availability for training camp is very much up in the air.
In Other News...
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What makes the situation more pressing is the clock. Each player will need to take another step soon to keep Vancouver interested enough to offer an entry-level deal, and none of the three has made the choice easy based on current performance. Gardner, Perkins and Celebrini all bring different backgrounds and skill sets, but the common thread is the same: the Canucks have to decide whether the upside is worth waiting on, or whether this is another prospect cycle that fades without ever reaching Abbotsford, let alone Vancouver. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Schenn Returns As Canucks Try To Steady Their Young Blue Line
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For the Canucks, the appeal goes beyond minutes on the ice. Schenns previous run with the club included a strong defensive pairing and a noticeable offensive bounce in the 2022-23 season, but this return is more about guidance than production. Vancouver wants its younger defenders to keep growing, and Schenn gives them a seasoned presence in the room while the organization sorts out how the rest of the back end will settle in. [Read more 🡒]