Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

[Hit the post]

Demko is the kind of goalie who, when he's in his zone, can get into the heads of opposing players. I just wish the Canucks were better defensively in front of him.

No goalie should be forced to face breakaway after breakaway; and ridiculous high-danger scoring chances, night after night. That was how he got hurt against Florida, trying to stop three or four chances in a row.

Get a decent blueline in front of him, and Demko still has the potential to be one of the best in the NHL.

We dealt our 2nd best bargaining chip for an offensive defenseman (who while not horrible defensively isn't what I'd call an higher end defensive player that can remotely cover for the slugs like OEL on the team).

 

[Coffee]

Is this guy legit ?

 

[Russian_fanatic]

So we are 5-1 ever since he came back... He also has a. 928 save percent in that stretch. He has been a wall.

I'm so glad we didn't sell low on Demko, because guy is a legit franchise goalie when healthy.

 

[Zippgunn]

Get a decent blueline in front of him, and Demko still has the potential to be one of the best in the NHL.

You could say that about literally any goalie in the NHL...

 

[LordBacon]

Looked pretty good this game.
Lets hope he stays healthy.

 

[VanJack]

Demko's 'high-water mark' as a goalie was his lights-out performance during the COVID-shortened season and into the payoffs once Markstrom went down..

After that it was mostly downhill--with injuries being one of the biggest factors. IMO he's still a huge question mark heading into the season.

People keep saying he's a 'Vezina quality' goaltender......but he's going to have to prove it. And it won't be easy playing behind this Canuck roster.

 

[HairyKneel]

“And now you know….. the rest of the story”

Is Paul Harvey a member at hfboards?

 

[VanJack]

“And now you know….. the rest of the story”

Is Paul Harvey a member at hfboards?

It's possible.....didn't Paul Harvey die 15 years ago? But HF Boards can resurrect anything.

 

[TraderJim]

Demko's 'high-water mark' as a goalie was his lights-out performance during the COVID-shortened season and into the payoffs once Markstrom went down..

After that it was mostly downhill--with injuries being one of the biggest factors. IMO he's still a huge question mark heading into the season.

People keep saying he's a 'Vezina quality' goaltender......but he's going to have to prove it. And it won't be easy playing behind this Canuck roster.

The Canucks defense has been bad for as long as Demko has been here so he gets the benefit of the doubt because of all the 5 alarm saves he needs to make constantly. Few teams, if any, allowed so many side to side chances as the Canuck defense did. So you almost give him more props for his good saves because his teammates are out there acting like clowns.

If (and that's a big if), the defense becomes better and more structured, Demko isn't going to be getting the benefit of the doubt as much. His play is going to be under a lot more scrutiny if a goal gets scored if the d-men and team in general is more structurally sound.

Much like how Luongo was a better goalie when facing 35+ shots a game, you have to wonder if Demko can adjust his game and still play lights out when only facing 20 to 25 shots a game (assuming the team can actually play like that).

 

[nucksflailtogether]

Demko's 'high-water mark' as a goalie was his lights-out performance during the COVID-shortened season and into the payoffs once Markstrom went down..

After that it was mostly downhill--with injuries being one of the biggest factors. IMO he's still a huge question mark heading into the season.

People keep saying he's a 'Vezina quality' goaltender......but he's going to have to prove it. And it won't be easy playing behind this Canuck roster.

You're going to just omit his full season where he was by far the MVP of the Boudreau bounce back? He's no guarantee to be amazing but we've seen far more good than bad from him and he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

 

[VanJack]

It was the Demko of old in the first period last night.....a number of 10-bell saves, otherwise the Oilers are up by a lot more than one goal.

Goaltending is so vital in the NHL. Sometimes the only way you're going to win, is having your goaltender bail you out from a sluggish start.

And unfortunately because of all the travel the Canucks do--that's going to happen more often than not, particularly on the road.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

The Canucks defense has been bad for as long as Demko has been here so he gets the benefit of the doubt because of all the 5 alarm saves he needs to make constantly. Few teams, if any, allowed so many side to side chances as the Canuck defense did. So you almost give him more props for his good saves because his teammates are out there acting like clowns.

If (and that's a big if), the defense becomes better and more structured, Demko isn't going to be getting the benefit of the doubt as much. His play is going to be under a lot more scrutiny if a goal gets scored if the d-men and team in general is more structurally sound.

Much like how Luongo was a better goalie when facing 35+ shots a game, you have to wonder if Demko can adjust his game and still play lights out when only facing 20 to 25 shots a game (assuming the team can actually play like that).

Yeah. I remember Kevin Weekes saying that our PK broke xGoal models.

 

[VanJack]

They were commenting on the broadcasts last night about how many cross-creases passes the Canucks coughed up on the PK last year.

It's one of the most dangerous plays for a goaltender.....they're planted in the crease to face a shot, and suddenly the puck is passed across the crease to a wide-open shooter. And somehow the goalie has to fling themselves across the net to make a save.

It's a high risk, desperation play for goalie, resulting in lot of hamstring and groin injuries. I think it was one of the factors in Demko's long-term injury last season.

So a better PK would definitely reduce the injury risk for Demko.

 

[Knight53]

Playing like the best goalie in the league.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

Cooked. Schenider 2.0.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Playing great..This past off season it was infuriating ….Plenty of posters here ,wanting to trade him to the Kings .

 

[I Hart Conor Garland]

Playing great..This past off season it was infuriating posters here ,wanting to trade him to the Kings .

Given this team's realistic trajectory, moving Demko for futures is likely beneficial in the long run.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Was a huge worry after last year, but he's killing it.

 

[Jay26]

I hope he makes a push for the Vezina this year although it's really early to even be entertaining it. With Hughes and the Norris that seems way more projectable.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

 

[VanJack]

It seems that in every game now, Demko make a 10-bell save early on, and you can just see the confidence of the team soar to new levels.

Have to admit I was one of the guy who worried about Demko's injury history and whether the time might have come to trade him for some decent assets. But right now, he's probably the most 'dialed in' goalie in the league.

We saw the two best goalies in the Western Conference in action last night.....Demko and Oettinger are a big reason why their teams are at the top of the conference.

 

[LaVal]

I get those same 2006 Luongo vibes where no matter how scrambly and disjointed the play going on in front of him is, I'm not worried at all because you know he's just not going to let the puck in. The team must feel like that as well.

 

[Knight53]

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Forgot I put this bet in.

Heh.

 

[ghostingtaro]

Leading in wins right now wooooo