Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

[CanucksSayEh]

Canucks are getting a lot of odd man rushes and breakaways themselves, but no one is claiming the opposing goalie is stealing games. Demko is getting run support, early leads, and quick goals in response to goals against. Thus far this season isn't at all like the bubble division or early last year where it was an endless onslaught of grade A chances.

He can have stretches of non elite play, but you have to at least match your counterparts.

While other top players aren't performing well, the goalie is unique, a much shorter job description.

 

[me2]

Demko had rough start on 20-21 (.891 .871 .833). In 2021 he a 5 game bad patch in November. He bounces back and he'll bounce back sooner rather than later

 

[Green Blank Stare]

Looking like Matt Murray 2.0

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Just like EP last year.. Demko will be fine.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Just like EP last year.. Demko will be fine.

Yup. Demko is the least of this team's problems.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

I won't dump on Demko. He's always been bailing out the team and now he's playing poorly and the team can't return the favour.

Exactly how I feel

We've been riding Demko like a damn mule. He's been bailing out this dogshit defense for three straight seasons and only in said third season is he struggling? Cool. Help him out for a change. Prime Patrick Roy couldn't keep up with this team's "defense".

 

[VanJack]

With every passing game, it's becoming more apparent just how much the Canucks relied on 'out-of-the world' goaltending from Demko last season. He masked a lot of the Canucks ongoing problems with zone exits and a suspect PK.

Unfortunately this year so far, Demko has reverted to 'average'. He makes the saves he should, but the 10-bell saves of a year ago, are going in so far. This shouldn't be a shock. Even top goalies in the NHL like Hellebucyk and Markstrom go through peaks and valleys.

But the bottom line is that the Canucks are so poor in their own zone and get out-chanced so badly, that 'average' goaltending simply isn't going to get it done.

In retrospect, this correction in the crease heading into this season, should have been as obvious as the nose on your face. And if it continues, the Canucks are done.

 

[mossey3535]

As a believer in the player and his talent level, Demko will turn it around.

I won't be surprised if he turns it around sooner than later.

Based on the history of goaltending in the league though, as I've posted a few times, this could be a tough season. I think I mention this just to temper expectations (my own included).

Whatever happens, remember that he's an immense talent and has a ceiling he has yet to reach.

 

[MS]

I’ve been a massive believer in this player dating back to his time in Utica.

But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous about the surgery he had at the end of last season and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking a bit about that Seravelli bit from a few months ago where he said that a league executive had told him he’d trade Demko now before he’s the next Cory Schneider with his hip issues.

I kind of rolled my eyes at the time, but after this start … ehhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Hopefully he comes right here soon.

 

[Cancuks]

I think we should move him before his value tanks behind this defense. We could get our future RD for Hughes if we trade Demko. Every season there's tons of goalies available in free agency or on waivers and someone always has a break out campaign when given the chance. Maybe even Martin stands on his head again after he's the guy.

 

[mossey3535]

There's a 3-day break and a 4-day break (if Demko plays PIT) coming up, if extra work pays off this is where we'll see it.

 

[Luck 6]

Demko will be fine, but man, he really hasn't been good to start the year. We need him to turn it around quickly.

 

[1440]

Thread discussing Canucks issues this year. Basically surmises that things have been the same as last year except that the goal-tending (both Demko and Martin, albeit very small sample size for Martin) has been way worse. Matches the eye test I think.

 

[Vector]

I’ve been a massive believer in this player dating back to his time in Utica.

But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous about the surgery he had at the end of last season and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking a bit about that Seravelli bit from a few months ago where he said that a league executive had told him he’d trade Demko now before he’s the next Cory Schneider with his hip issues.

I kind of rolled my eyes at the time, but after this start … ehhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Hopefully he comes right here soon.

I've had the exact same thought and concern.

 

[credulous]

i like demko a lot and think he'll have a long, solid career but fans put way too much stock into his early nhl career. rookie goalies putting up flashy results is a thing year after year because they haven't been heavily scouted yet and players haven't learned how to play against them. the actually elite goalies eventually adjust and stay elite. the ones that aren't are generally still good players but never repeat their early career success

saaros and hellebuyck both had 'down' years after their breakout seasons. sorokin and shesterkin are probably going to fall back to earth too now that they've established themselves. is demko gonna recover like the first group? or is he gonna end up like carter hart or jordan binnington?

 

[flyerslducks]

i like demko a lot and think he'll have a long, solid career but fans put way too much stock into his early nhl career. rookie goalies putting up flashy results is a thing year after year because they haven't been heavily scouted yet and players haven't learned how to play against them. the actually elite goalies eventually adjust and stay elite. the ones that aren't are generally still good players but never repeat their early career success

saaros and hellebuyck both had 'down' years after their breakout seasons. sorokin and shesterkin are probably going to fall back to earth too now that they've established themselves. is demko gonna recover like the first group? or is he gonna end up like carter hart or jordan binnington?

harts has been great so far for us which is not surprising really...he's a solid goalie but the team sucks. I think it's the same situation for demko. Both of our team's defenses (the dmen personnel and team d as a whole) haven't been great in recent years. It is a mistake to move on from a top goalie because of a down year/start...its taken philly years to get a goalie so you just never know when you are going to get a good one or not.
I put hart, demko, and gibson in the same category---3 really solid goalies (I have demko above them both) who have been on mediocre to bad teams. They will just go through periods of being really good and really bad because of that

 

[Zippgunn]

I remember Lou taking till Christmas to get going and nobody here complained...

 

[Kryten]

Games played 9, Tied 5-13/70
Wins 1, Tied 47-58/70
Goals against 35, 69/70
Save % .879, 57/70
GAA 3.90, 60/70

Get eye surgery, unf*** your personal life from your job or you will carry the beachball moniker thats been shelved for nearly 20 years

 

[Huggy43]

I remember Lou taking till Christmas to get going and nobody here complained...

Nobody complained about something involving Luongo?

….Are you sure about the position you’re choosing to take here? lol

 

[sting101]

I remember Lou taking till Christmas to get going and nobody here complained...

that is not a thing

 

[Green Blank Stare]

Martin should be the #1 goalie right now.

I don't care if the PK is ass and the blue line is shaky. Make some saves.

They've given him leads in almost every game and he hasn't been able to close.

At minimum, he cost them the Washington and Nashville games. I'd argue the Edmonton game as well but I'll give it a pass because of McJesus.

 

[me2]

Martin should be the #1 goalie right now.

I don't care if the PK is ass and the blue line is shaky. Make some saves.

They've given him leads in almost every game and he hasn't been able to close.

At minimum, he cost them the Washington and Nashville games. I'd argue the Edmonton game as well but I'll give it a pass because of McJesus.

#teamSpencer

At least until he starts losing a lot. It's time to ride the goalie on a cool streak instead of the one on the cold streak.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Martin should be the #1 goalie right now.

I don't care if the PK is ass and the blue line is shaky. Make some saves.

They've given him leads in almost every game and he hasn't been able to close.

At minimum, he cost them the Washington and Nashville games. I'd argue the Edmonton game as well but I'll give it a pass because of McJesus.

Honestly.

Spencer was worse vs Ducks then Demko has been in any game he played...

 

[RobertKron]

Nobody complained about something involving Luongo?

….Are you sure about the position you’re choosing to take here? lol

Is this surprising somehow?

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Is this surprising somehow?

People ran Luongo out of town.

He was blamed for us losing to Boston in 2011.

He was THE whipping boy of that team after the finals loss.