Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

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His development path led to the smart bet being a top flight goalie and nothing has shown otherwise. Obviously having a guy like Ian Clark being able to assess his value and upside is part of the process. Being a skeptical fan is not an analysis and of course things can happen (Carter Hart) but what has he ever done to make you think he wasn't capable of being a upper echelon #1?

When you consider that signing Markstrom came with the acknowledgement you would have to trade Demko and by the time fans were back in the buildings you would be looking at a 32 almost 33yr old goalie with bad knees as "the man" i thought it was a no brainer.


Interesting take on the Canuck defense of the last couple years?

Compare his starts with those of Holtby's last year; he was definitely sheltered from the really tough starts...
 
We knew what we had in Marky, playing him more wasn't necessary...and no,...you don't start experimenting with goalies in a season where you have gone 'all in' to make the playoffs, and every win is critical.

Maybe Demko wasn't entirely ready at the beginning of the 2019-20 season to take on a big workload...?...We don't know what occurs behind the scenes...My guess is , is that they've always wanted to bring Demko along step by step, without throwing him in the deep end...This is why they signed Holtby..It backfired, but thats the reasoning behind it.

I'm not so sure that it "backfired"; Holtby was the cannon fodder for a terrible defensive team and Demko was able to benefit from not having to play in too many games where the team simply didn't show up thus making him look better than he actually is IMHO.
 
Well as much as I like Demko, he definitely wasn't considered a top 15 pick in his draft eligible year. He was more like a late first round pick type.

Passing the torch to Demko was always the ideal situation. But between Markstrom's emergence as one of the best goalies in the league and Demko's relatively delayed NHL start and it was a tough decision. Ideally, the Canucks would have had another year to decide but they didn't.

Regardless, I agree with you that I think it did work out for the best. If Demko can stay healthy I think he'll be a fine #1 goalie for the Canucks for years to come.
Your right. I had talked to a scout then who loved him and thought he was top15 material and heard and read it elsewhere by different scouting groups but yes the consensus was he would be late first to early 2nd where we got him.

https://thehockeywriters.com/thatcher-demko-the-next-ones-2014-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
 
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I'm not so sure that it "backfired"; Holtby was the cannon fodder for a terrible defensive team and Demko was able to benefit from not having to play in too many games where the team simply didn't show up thus making him look better than he actually is IMHO.

The fact that he was bought out shows that we're regretting that second year, as was predicted.
 
The fact that he was bought out shows that we're regretting that second year, as was predicted.

We are going to be a better team this year but IMHO if Halak gets the same quality of starts that Holtby did he won't look so great either...
 
Bumping this thread to praise Demko for a great game last night.

The franchise really is lucky to have gone from Luongo to Markstrom to Demko with a smooth passing of the torch. Meanwhile teams like PHI, OTT and EDM toil for years without a reliable starter.

Curious to see what kind of stats Demko puts together this year in a tandem with Halak.
 
I don't know what is about the Canucks and their goalies, but they always seem unearth somebody in the draft.....Cory Schneider; a trade for Luongo; and of course Demko.

And I wouldn't sleep on DiPietro, Silovs or Koskenvuo......they'll marinate in the minors for awhile, but all have shown the capabilities of being NHL goalies one day.

And as other posters have pointed out, some NHL teams can't find a goalie in the draft to save their lives....and end up overpaying for some veteran guy who's plateaued or is even in decline.

It's too bad the Canucks weren't as good at finding d-men as they seem to be with goalies,
 
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The franchise really is lucky to have gone from Luongo to Markstrom to Demko with a smooth passing of the torch.

I don't know what is about the Canucks and their goalies, but they always seem unearth somebody in the draft

It's too bad the Canucks weren't as good at finding d-men as they seem to be with goalies,

:help:

Canucks have been fortunate of late, but this franchise has had the worst luck at the goalie position until we acquired Luongo. That was a franchise changing move. And don't forget, we went "smoothly" from Luongo --> Eddie Lack --> Ryan Miller before Markstrom was a starter.
 
On his current trajectory, Demko could really benefit from either getting a wake-up call that he needs to work hard on his lateral movement, play reading, fighting through screens, and tendency to over-rely on his post and post-integration techniques.

Or, the Canucks could hire a competent defensive head coach that can shelter his weaknesses.

Hopefully Clark gets a little tougher on him, because I doubt the latter is happening.
 
:help:

Canucks have been fortunate of late, but this franchise has had the worst luck at the goalie position until we acquired Luongo. That was a franchise changing move. And don't forget, we went "smoothly" from Luongo --> Eddie Lack --> Ryan Miller before Markstrom was a starter.

20 years ago Van was a goalie graveyard...18 different goalies from 98 to 2006 when Lou arrived.
 
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I don't know what is about the Canucks and their goalies, but they always seem unearth somebody in the draft.....Cory Schneider; a trade for Luongo; and of course Demko.

And I wouldn't sleep on DiPietro, Silovs or Koskenvuo......they'll marinate in the minors for awhile, but all have shown the capabilities of being NHL goalies one day.

And as other posters have pointed out, some NHL teams can't find a goalie in the draft to save their lives....and end up overpaying for some veteran guy who's plateaued or is even in decline.

It's too bad the Canucks weren't as good at finding d-men as they seem to be with goalies,

My assumption is that Ian Clark is the biggest reason, I assume he weighs in on drafting but definitely after drafting he could be the difference from a drafted goalie becoming great versus either a bust or a marginal outcome.
 
20 years ago Van was a goalie graveyard...18 different goalies from 98 to 2006 when Lou arrived.

Yeah goaltending was our literal worst position for that entire era. Luongo wasnt part of a pattern that already existed he was the beginning of a new era for us. We've been spoiled since.

Man that Lidstrom goal from the half line...goddamnit
 
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My assumption is that Ian Clark is the biggest reason, I assume he weighs in on drafting but definitely after drafting he could be the difference from a drafted goalie becoming great versus either a bust or a marginal outcome.
You're probably right....he also had a big role in making Markstrom the goalie he is today....He arrived from Panthers as a flawed goalie who was low on confidence. Canucks spent a couple of seasons remaking his game, including a season in the minors.

But by the time they were done, Markstrom was one of the best goalies in the league......so he has Clark and Canucks to thank for his massive payday in Calgary.
 
On his current trajectory, Demko could really benefit from either getting a wake-up call that he needs to work hard on his lateral movement, play reading, fighting through screens, and tendency to over-rely on his post and post-integration techniques.

Or, the Canucks could hire a competent defensive head coach that can shelter his weaknesses.

Hopefully Clark gets a little tougher on him, because I doubt the latter is happening.

My main beef is his rebound control. Watch his goals against and you will see that a lot of them stem from uncontrolled rebounds.
 
I just found out that Demko's fiancee is a also a goalie. Are there other goalie couples out there?
 
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My main beef is his rebound control. Watch his goals against and you will see that a lot of them stem from uncontrolled rebounds.

Remember Markstrom when he was 25 years old, was trash. Demko has a lot of time to improve his game and IMO he is almost at the same level as prime Markstrom now. When he’s on he is on. The game last night against Edmonton was insane, Mcdavid could have had multiple goals.
 
Remember Markstrom when he was 25 years old, was trash. Demko has a lot of time to improve his game and IMO he is almost at the same level as prime Markstrom now. When he’s on he is on. The game last night against Edmonton was insane, Mcdavid could have had multiple goals.
I'm gonna sound biased when I say this but when Demko is at his best, right now, he is a top 3-5 goalie in the league.
 
Demko doing his best imitation of Dominic Hasek in that final flurry with the Canucks two-men down. Amazing! The crowd was on its feet at Rogers Arena.

Where would this Canucks team be without Demko? The Rangers got a breakaway in the first minute of last night's game...once again foiled by Demmer.

Let's face it.....he's the Canucks MVP right now by a mile.
 
Remember Markstrom when he was 25 years old, was trash. Demko has a lot of time to improve his game and IMO he is almost at the same level as prime Markstrom now. When he’s on he is on. The game last night against Edmonton was insane, Mcdavid could have had multiple goals.
Took a while to undo the **** development he had in Florida.

Canucks may have a ton if issues but goalie development has never been one of them (going back to the Nonis days).
 
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This guy has Vezina potential in the next few seasons. Amazing.

If the Canucks can put together a winning team in front of him, Demko should be able to contend. Lots of competition though.

Regardless, we're getting top performances from Demko right now and it's great. Hope he can keep it up.
 
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Took a while to undo the **** development he had in Florida.

Canucks may have a ton if issues but goalie development has never been one of them (going back to the Nonis days).
I believe back then Florida didn't have a goalie coach
 
The franchise really is lucky to have gone from Luongo to Markstrom to Demko with a smooth passing of the torch. Meanwhile teams like PHI, OTT and EDM toil for years without a reliable starter.

I don't know what is about the Canucks and their goalies, but they always seem unearth somebody in the draft.....Cory Schneider; a trade for Luongo; and of course Demko.

we were owed by the hockey gods after garth snow, keenan refusing to play irbe, sean burke before he was fixed, kevin weekes, felix potvin when he sucked, crawford refusing to play all three of essensa, hedberg, and noronen, cloutier, alex auld, peter skudra, martin brochu, and the omelette.
 
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