G Thatcher Demko (2014, 36th, VAN)

[BoDacious Horvat]

Demo got lit up in key games at the end of the season...Notre Dame did it to him twice and BC got shelled in the Frozen Four Final by Union..Sorry but I do not see anything that special in home...I was more impressed with Mason McDonald who was terrific at the U-18s and in the Top Prospects Game.. He got bombed with shots in the Q so the save% stats there do not look that good but the scouts discount for goals facing shot barrage every night.Most nights Demko never faced that much rubber.So I think DoNald should be the #1 NA goalie. .As for euro goalies,Vile Husso is #1 on the Central Scouting ranking but his record in international tournaments is bad..so while terrific in Finland,he seems to choke in the higher pressure of big tournament play against other countries..This should be a red flag..I am more intrigued by the 2nd ranked euro goalie Jonas Johansson who is also just turning 19 in Sept....Husso is already 20..
Picking teen aged goaltenders is always a crapshoot ..Hard to find the "real deal" ..best you can do is true to project and hope your hunch proves out.
On that basis my bunches are to bet on McDonald and Johansson for top 2 goalies worthy of late first to early 2nd round picks..then on Kashmir Kaskisuo and Elvis Merzlikins as 3rd round picks.. Avoid Demko because like Louongo he is.probably a choker...For late round pick in goal (5,6 or 7th round) target Jeff Smith (BCHL)

That last part about Jeff Smith is the best thing I've seen on this site, I played ball hockey with him, and he's one of the nicest and most genuine guys I've got to play with. Just a big guy who works all the time, and I'm glad he posted such incredible numbers in his rookie BCHL season and it got him that UMass scholarship so I think a team could be very happy to pick him up in the 6th-7th.

 

[Aaron Vickers]

Demko’s strong showing as a rare draft eligible in the NCAA earned him a spot on the chart. The big, 6-foot-4, 185-pound keeper controls his crease at all times and utilizes his size to make tough stops. His butterfly style covers the lower part of the net consistently, with his two gloves blocking and catching any incoming rubber at altitude.

A bit more on Demko in our Countdown here: http://futureconsiderations.ca/fcs-draft-countdown-25-21/

 

[Aaron Vickers]

CALGARY, AB – Future Considerations Hockey today announced Thatcher Demko of Boston College as the Double Blue Sports draft eligible Goaltender of the Year.

“NHL teams love goaltenders that blend athleticism and impressive size, which is exactly what Demko has going for him. He was dominant during his first season of NCAA action, taking over starting duties and impressing his coaches with his maturity and consistency."

http://futureconsiderations.ca/demko-named-fcs-goaltender-of-the-year/

 

[SLAPSHOT723]

Any chance he falls to #35?

 

[Just A Retool]

Any chance he falls to #35?

I wouldn't be too surprised if he did, Fucale was the clear #1 goalie in the draft last season and fell further than that. That being said I wouldn't be too upset if the Flames picked him one earlier at #34, although I am sure we will probably target a defenseman or big forward with that pick.

 

[Paxon]

Any chance he falls to #35?

Great chance. I won't say it's more likely than not, but it should be very realistic. He might not be the first goalie taken.

 

[Brooklanders*]

The Isles need to invest a second re pick on Demko. I think he's better than McDonald.

 

[Fish on The Sand]

Which is exactly what they've dine with Allen, as he approaches to be their starter and what they have and will continue to do with Binnington.

Blues have a pretty damn good record if pumping out goalies. In the 2nd round, needs can be addressed and the blues need forward prospects since their best ines have graduated and their last one will graduate sooner rather than later.

They have a young,starting goalie and a youngster who will start in the AHL next year. Besides, if he's in the 2nd I think he goes to Buffalo.

They do? Have they ever developed a goalie within their own organization? Curtis Joseph back in like 1989 is the only one I can think of.

 

[BoDacious Horvat]

They do? Have they ever developed a goalie within their own organization? Curtis Joseph back in like 1989 is the only one I can think of.

I think it's more they have a goalie friendly system. But with how Jake Allen has been coming along, you have to think they know what they're doing.

 

[BarDownBobo]

Demko's CHL rights just got traded from Spokane to Calgary. Interesting considering how well he has been doing with BC, but why would Calgary make this move without some chance of him going there....

 

[herashak]

Maybe Virtanen can persuade him. Calgary has a few good dmen they might be able to load up and make a run next year.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Demko's CHL rights just got traded from Spokane to Calgary. Interesting considering how well he has been doing with BC, but why would Calgary make this move without some chance of him going there....

I would be shocked if he went to the WHL.

 

[boredmale]

I would be shocked if he went to the WHL.

If I was Demko I would tell Vancouver I will sign a contract but send me to the AHL/ECHL first to see how I do there before I go to the WHL

 

[BillyShoe1721]

Demko's not going anywhere. He's the unquestioned starter at BC, and just today was talking about how much fun he was having at WJC camp with 5 BC guys there.

 

[GetFocht]

Beyond where he is going, it seems like he is putting up stellar numbers in BC at 19 years old. Could he better than Cory Schneider 19>?

 

[lawrence]

Beyond where he is going, it seems like he is putting up stellar numbers in BC at 19 years old. Could he better than Cory Schneider 19>?

Hmmmm don't think so... although right now, Demko might be better conditioned at this point then when Schneider was just drafted, but I doubt he will be better. who knows.

 

[canuckster19]

I like the fact that he seems so excited to be drafted by Vancouver, hopefully we don't screw this one up, I think he could be the real deal.

 

[93LEAFS]

Van should be happy to have him. Before Reimer's stock collapsed at the end of last season I was hoping we could of traded him for an early 2nd so we could draft Demko.

 

[lawrence]

I like the fact that he seems so excited to be drafted by Vancouver, hopefully we don't screw this one up, I think he could be the real deal.

apparently his father attended UBC and his favorite goalie was actually the Vancouver Canucks version of Dan Cloutier, so I guess there's some connection between the Demko's and British Columbia.

 

[Snatcher Demko]

Demo got lit up in key games at the end of the season...Notre Dame did it to him twice and BC got shelled in the Frozen Four Final by Union..Sorry but I do not see anything that special in home...I was more impressed with Mason McDonald who was terrific at the U-18s and in the Top Prospects Game.. He got bombed with shots in the Q so the save% stats there do not look that good but the scouts discount for goals facing shot barrage every night.Most nights Demko never faced that much rubber.So I think DoNald should be the #1 NA goalie. .As for euro goalies,Vile Husso is #1 on the Central Scouting ranking but his record in international tournaments is bad..so while terrific in Finland,he seems to choke in the higher pressure of big tournament play against other countries..This should be a red flag..I am more intrigued by the 2nd ranked euro goalie Jonas Johansson who is also just turning 19 in Sept....Husso is already 20..
Picking teen aged goaltenders is always a crapshoot ..Hard to find the "real deal" ..best you can do is true to project and hope your hunch proves out.
On that basis my bunches are to bet on McDonald and Johansson for top 2 goalies worthy of late first to early 2nd round picks..then on Kashmir Kaskisuo and Elvis Merzlikins as 3rd round picks.. Avoid Demko because like Louongo he is.probably a choker...For late round pick in goal (5,6 or 7th round) target Jeff Smith (BCHL)

If he turns out to be as good as Luongo I think Canuck fans would take that and run, laughing deliriously.

 

[canucks10]

Maybe Virtanen can persuade him. Calgary has a few good dmen they might be able to load up and make a run next year.

I'd rather him stay at BC to be honest, I think the NCAA is a better development path for goalies

 

[93LEAFS]

I'd rather him stay at BC to be honest, I think the NCAA is a better development path for goalies

Not only that but considering the long term development Goalies usually take it would be ideal if he stayed 4 years in the NCAA if there was no threat of him doing what Schultz did. The longer a goalie has a 2 way contact with no waivers the better. A big worry is will a goalie be ready to be in the NHL full time by his 4th year out of jrs otherwise you risk losing them on waivers.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

As a college prospect, he could bypass the AHL's U20 rule and play there (AHL) if he signed a contract. If he was really wanting to take another step, that's the one I'd be interested to see him take. But given the Canucks' logjam of goalies at the AHL level (Markstrom, Eriksson, Cannata), I can't see that happening.

Honestly, he's doing very well at BC and I don't see a reason for him to move. His agent seems to feel the same way based on his Twitter remarks to NEWS1130 in Vancouver this morning.

 

[93LEAFS]

As a college prospect, he could bypass the AHL's U20 rule and play there (AHL) if he signed a contract. If he was really wanting to take another step, that's the one I'd be interested to see him take. But given the Canucks' logjam of goalies at the AHL level (Markstrom, Eriksson, Cannata), I can't see that happening.

Honestly, he's doing very well at BC and I don't see a reason for him to move. His agent seems to feel the same way based on his Twitter remarks to NEWS1130 in Vancouver this morning.

If he has an agent he wouldn't be elgiable to play. I'm sure its worded as an adviser to the family or something. I doubt its ideal for the Canucks to start burning off his cheap years/waiver exempt years by starting him in the minors when he still has 2 years of eligibility in college.

 

[Paxon]

If he has an agent he wouldn't be elgiable to play. I'm sure its worded as an adviser to the family or something. I doubt its ideal for the Canucks to start burning off his cheap years/waiver exempt years by starting him in the minors when he still has 2 years of eligibility in college.

As a player under 20, his ELC would slide playing in the AHL the same as it would if he were in juniors or Europe. At least that's the general concept, as the sliding rule depends on when in the year the contract is signed and on what date the player turns 20.

An affirming example is Zemgus Girgensons, drafted out of the USHL with the intention of going the NCAA route. Instead he signed his ELC that summer and played his post-draft year in the AHL without burning a year off his contract.