Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

[me2]

Also of note, Demko is ducking the media during this time, which tells me, he's mentally weak. This isn't a guy playing for a chance in the NHL like Martin.; he just got a 5/$25 million contract.

Maybe he's playing injured. Nothing would surprise me with this team.

 

[MikeK]

Maybe he's playing injured. Nothing would surprise me with this team.

Or maybe he's just fed-up and doesn't give a shit anymore. Get in and get out is a lot of the players mentality right now. This Canucks team has one of the worst rooms we've seen around here for over 20 years. That can seriously deplete a players mentality.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

So many excuses for a guy who's playing horrendous. Martin isn't setting the world on fire himself but he looks like a Vezina candidate compared to Demko. On top of that, Martin is an AHL journeyman playing in front of the same terrible defense.

Also of note, Demko is ducking the media during this time, which tells me, he's mentally weak. This isn't a guy playing for a chance in the NHL like Martin.; he just got a 5/$25 million contract.

Dont worry.

Martin will develop same bad tendencies the more he plays behind this defence.
He will start playing deeper in the net to have a chance to save the cross ice passes.

Also. He already gives up easy goals.

 

[Kryten]

I'm a huge fan of Demko but he's also a developing goalie who spent two years backing up, and just came off his first real #1 starter season.

We've been spoiled by the fact he's been so good and ahead of the curve for the last three seasons. To me a setback is probably long overdue.

I have been critical of his technique and habits for awhile now, and I predicted a tough season for him this preseason based on better scouting and the mental load of being a second year starter in the NHL.

However, I didn't expect performance this bad. And ironically I don't think this is due to injury or the holes in his technique. I've been hard on him because I think those little details are the hurdle he needs to get over to be an elite starter, and of course hopefully a good playoff goalie. And those little things are the proverbial 5-10% extra mile you have to go to be great.

So they don't explain this absolute cratering. His movements are crisp and he's willing to contort his body on desperation saves so I don't put much stock in the bad hip rumours. Most likely it is loss of confidence that has snowballed and is further exacerbated by: a streak of poor tracking, better opposition scouting, distractions from his marriage, being behind the normal training curve because of the surgery, and as I said earlier just plain ass development.

He has always had a problem with rebounds but this year they are often ending in the back of the net. Some of that is from bad team coverage letting sticks and bodies get there first. His push offs this year are often losing him being square which Ive never seen him do before. He seems to be losing track of the puck from the circles to the blue line. I actually find him playing too far out which gives him close to zero chances on cross ice passes and rebounds. If I were to guess Id say he is losing his eyesight, or he has finally started giving the same effort level as the rest of the team

 

[mathonwy]

Losing his eyesight?

This is the darkest time line. Wtf.

 

[VanJack]

Elliot Friedmann is now saying that Demko is no longer 'untouchable' in VanCity. Despite his early season struggles, there'd still be a ton of interest around the NHL. There are just so many teams right now big question marks in goal.

Not much doubt about it....if the Canucks traded both Horvat and Demko, they'd reap a bounty. Might jump-start the rebuild.

 

[Nucker101]

Elliot Friedmann is now saying that Demko is no longer 'untouchable' in VanCity. Despite his early season struggles, there'd still be a ton of interest around the NHL. There are just so many teams right now big question marks in goal.

Not much doubt about it....if the Canucks traded both Horvat and Demko, they'd reap a bounty. Might jump-start the rebuild.

Didn’t Friedman basically say that he’s one step below untouchable? Meaning it would take an offer too good to pass up on.

Not exactly earth shattering insight there

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Didn’t Friedman basically say that he’s one step below untouchable? Meaning it would take an offer too good to pass up on.

Not exactly earth shattering insight there

That is just Friedman guessing.

He has good sources, and is a good source of rumours because of that, but... his own analysis is mostly brutal.

 

[Cancuks]

Friedman likely gets his inside information from the trade proposal threads on this site. I don't think they'll move Demko but if they were smart they would. Which they're not. Goalies are vastly overrated and often only good as the team plays in front of them. One year a guy posts Vezina numbers, the next he's AHL quality. One year a goalie is a struggling backup, the next season he's Linus Ullmark, Martin Jones, Logan Thompson etc etc. Put in a good coach with a solid defensive structure and even Spencer Martin would be a Vezina front runner.

 

[Raistlin]

Maybe he's playing injured. Nothing would surprise me with this team.

if I'm Allvin, I'll find any reason to shut him down for as long as it takes, if they are indeed going after a retool. Trading him is very reckless with only Silovs/Martin in the pipeline.

 

[tantalum]

Demko shouldn't be untouchable. The fact is that by the time this team is turned around his contract will either be expiring or in it's last year. They may not actually make use of his contract so moving him should be a consideration.

Likely an unpopular opinion but there it is.

An opinion not at all influenced by the fact he is killing my fantasy team and wanting him to play behind an actual defense.....

Really it must be extremely frustrating for a goaltender who is struggling to also have to deal with the shit show in front of him.

 

[rypper]

Let's remember how since their hiring, mgmt has completely locked out the usual insider suspects. Locally and NHL wide. So anything Friedman says is just him saying it.

 

[theguardianII]

You seem to be quoting on article on symptoms of wear in artificial hip joints. Demko doesn't have an artificial hip joint.

... Although resurfacing materials are strong, they aren’t immune to wear and tear. Our physiotherapists usually advise patients to avoid high-impact activities. Heavy sports that require jogging, running, jumping, quick stopping and starting, and cutting are discouraged. Repetitive impact can strain the resurfacing, increasing the risk of loosening.

All you have to do is look up NHL players careers after having this resurfacing surgery. It still has two metal components "capping" the bone and joint.

Jovanovski went through a long rehabilitation process afterward — a full year — and went on to play only 37 more games in the NHL during the 2013-14 season. The sad part is that’s considered the most successful return for an NHLer after getting a resurfacing done.

Other NHL players who have undergone the procedure include Ryan Kesler, who played 15 seasons, had hip resurfacing surgery — first on his right hip in May 2019, then on his left hip in February 2020 — and has not played in the NHL since March 2019.

WHATEVER the surgery he has not been the same since he injured it vs Ottawa last year in April.
And he couldn't workout as normal, his own words

What is scary is if there is nothing wrong then he has taken a giant leap backwards, but is still doesn't explain the poor pushed to the left, pads not spread as far or sealing the "five hole" or on the ice all the way.

 

[bandwagonesque]

... Although resurfacing materials are strong, they aren’t immune to wear and tear. Our physiotherapists usually advise patients to avoid high-impact activities. Heavy sports that require jogging, running, jumping, quick stopping and starting, and cutting are discouraged. Repetitive impact can strain the resurfacing, increasing the risk of loosening.

All you have to do is look up NHL players careers after having this resurfacing surgery. It still has two metal components "capping" the bone and joint.

Jovanovski went through a long rehabilitation process afterward — a full year — and went on to play only 37 more games in the NHL during the 2013-14 season. The sad part is that’s considered the most successful return for an NHLer after getting a resurfacing done.

Other NHL players who have undergone the procedure include Ryan Kesler, who played 15 seasons, had hip resurfacing surgery — first on his right hip in May 2019, then on his left hip in February 2020 — and has not played in the NHL since March 2019.

Hip resurfacing is a form of joint replacement. Demko didn't have this surgery or anything like it.

 

[tantalum]

Hip resurfacing is a form of joint replacement. Demko didn't have this surgery or anything like it.

I guess it depends on what your definition of resurfacing. You can use materials which is indeed a form of joint replacement.

However, I had a resurfacing that doesn’t involve those materials just as Seguin, Pasternak, and Kucherov. It was resurfacing to remove the impingement, remove bone spurs and reshape the ball and socket of the joint. Along with labrum repair. At least my surgeon called it resurfacing….

 

[theguardianII]

Hip resurfacing is a form of joint replacement. Demko didn't have this surgery or anything like it.

Sorry I was looking up Backstrom's surgery stuff and Demko's name came up in a paper
He had double Impingement surgery and yes it's one step below resurfacing or replacement, one paper called it resurfacing

Which makes cleaning up around the joint, not a major event and very quickly recovered from, make more sense. A small surgery;

There are two main goals of surgical treatment in FAI. The first is to address the damaged portion of the hip joint. This may involve repairing or removing damaged tissue. The second is to correct or improve the abnormal shape of the hip joint. This is often done arthroscopically by removing some of the extra bone. This involves small incisions and narrow instruments, and the surgeon will use a camera to look inside the hip. However, if your surgeon feels you need a more extensive, open procedure, it would involve larger incision sites, a two- to four-day hospital stay and crutches for six to eight weeks.

 

[VanJack]

Rutherford has described Demko in the past as 'a franchise goalie'. But what if he isn't? After all, he's had just one big season, so who knows?

Because if he isn't a franchise cornerstone, then the Canucks should at least listen to offers. I agree with other posters that it never pays to get 'too high' or 'too low' on goalies.

If the Canucks languish below the playoff bar for another season, the only guys who should be off the trade radar are Pettersson and Hughes. That's really about it.

 

[tantalum]

Sorry I was looking up Backstrom's surgery stuff and Demko's name came up in a paper
He had double Impingement surgery and yes it's one step below resurfacing or replacement, one paper called it resurfacing

Which makes cleaning up around the joint, not a major event and very quickly recovered from, make more sense. A small surgery;

There are two main goals of surgical treatment in FAI. The first is to address the damaged portion of the hip joint. This may involve repairing or removing damaged tissue. The second is to correct or improve the abnormal shape of the hip joint. This is often done arthroscopically by removing some of the extra bone. This involves small incisions and narrow instruments, and the surgeon will use a camera to look inside the hip. However, if your surgeon feels you need a more extensive, open procedure, it would involve larger incision sites, a two- to four-day hospital stay and crutches for six to eight weeks.

Correct. Keep in mind Rask had the same surgery and could not come back from it. He went from decent starting goaltender in the NHL --> surgery --> retirement in about a 12 month period.

The description seems all nice. Small instruments. Arthroscopic etc... What it missed is the likely surgical separation of the hip to get at the joint especially given it was impingement surgery with labrum repair. The recovery isn't that quick....4.5-6 months. As you are damaging the bone it has to be protected for quite some time to avoid fracturing the femoral head. I was 0% weight bearing for 4 weeks and full weight bearing by week 7. I was not allowed to do a 90 degree squat until month 4 or something. I was back in beer league at about 5.5 months. The physical therapy hurts like hell the first month or two.

Now of course the likes of Demko and Marchand are elite athletes and not old, fat f***s like me so I would expect recovery exercises are fast tracked compared to me. That said the older Seguin was out 6 months while the other star players seem to be in that same 4-5 month timeframe.

Mossey has said Demko looks like he is moving fine. I looked normal when I came back but I was nowhere near 100%. The stamina and for lack of a better term reaction time (muscle firing?) of the surgical hip was well behind the other hip for several months afterwards. Complete recovery is the 12-15 month timeframe...which I have just hit. I played a tournament beginning of October (5 games in about 32 hours) and noticed no difference. Then I got mild Covid followed by pericarditis and haven't played since.....sigh.

 

[mathonwy]

Rutherford has described Demko in the past as 'a franchise goalie'. But what if he isn't? After all, he's had just one big season, so who knows?

Because if he isn't a franchise cornerstone, then the Canucks should at least listen to offers. I agree with other posters that it never pays to get 'too high' or 'too low' on goalies.

If the Canucks languish below the playoff bar for another season, the only guys who should be off the trade radar are Pettersson and Hughes. That's really about it.

Petey only if he’s willing to resign.

 

[ChuckNorris4Cup]

Could he really just be a Cory Schneider 2.0...

 

[me2]

Elliot Friedmann is now saying that Demko is no longer 'untouchable' in VanCity. Despite his early season struggles, there'd still be a ton of interest around the NHL. There are just so many teams right now big question marks in goal.

Not much doubt about it....if the Canucks traded both Horvat and Demko, they'd reap a bounty. Might jump-start the rebuild.

Not while Demko is going full Grubauer.

 

[mossey3535]

Also Demko has been very straight forward with the challenges of his last surgery, I don't see why he would hide anything now or take some time off if it was still really bothering him. He's in the midst of a contract, there's no reason to do so.

 

[arttk]

Not worried about Demko, if he sucks for the rest of the season and the next then yeah. Also his cap is not bad and Martin is cheap as hell so this won’t kill us cap wise.

 

[Green Blank Stare]

Elliot Friedmann is now saying that Demko is no longer 'untouchable' in VanCity. Despite his early season struggles, there'd still be a ton of interest around the NHL. There are just so many teams right now big question marks in goal.

Not much doubt about it....if the Canucks traded both Horvat and Demko, they'd reap a bounty. Might jump-start the rebuild.

They'd be fools not to listen to offers. If they could get a first and/or a quality defenseman, send him out.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

He doesn't look injured. Physically he seems totally fine, his movements aren't slow, he's not labored, or less flexible.

Dude just isn't reading the play at all. Over or underplays passes, doesn't see through light traffic, and just flat out isn't reacting quickly. Puck skills, and feel, have been bad, like really really awful, top shelf beach ball level bad.