Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

[rypper]

Actually I don't think he did and the recovery time has far elapsed for that type injury.
I researched what has been said and if he has it he can't do knee bends let alone the splits. Walking would also be almost impossible so I think they just found some obscure injury to mask the real one. Wasn't it Dahli that announced what it was?

You've lost the plot.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

 

[VanJack]

The Canucks will eventually have a tough call to make on Demko. Normally a 28-year goaltender with that kind of talent and on a bargain contract, would be an 'automatic re-signing'.

But his injury history clouds everything. His contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. So if the returns to relatively decent health this season and recovers his form, he could be a candidate to be moved in the off-season.

Goaltenders rarely command much return in the NHL marketplace, but some team out there with series woes between the pipes, might be tempted to overpay.

It's a difficult internal discussion though. From all reports, Demko is a workaholic who is revered by his teammates, and might be one of the most professional and businesslike goalies the Canucks have ever had.

He's one of the Canucks core-leaders, when he's healthy. But missing all of last season's critical playoff games might be his last hurdle in Vancouver, unless somehow he goes on a big run next spring like he did in the COVID season.

 

[SillyRabbit]

One of the things that annoys me about this situation is that Demko is a huge asset when healthy and we've basically lost a full year of him at a steal of a 5M cap hit.

Furthermore, he's 28 years old and in his prime, yet he will garner nowhere near his value in a trade.

So from an asset management standpoint, Demko represents a massive amount of lost value.

 

[thecupismine]

Hopefully he's back soon to weather the storm of no Miller or Boeser.

Hard to win tight games without your first line, and a bottom 10 ES save percentage (slightly influenced by a couple blowout losses) isn't going to cut it with how fine a margin they have over the next little bit.

 

[Raistlin]

One of the things that annoys me about this situation is that Demko is a huge asset when healthy and we've basically lost a full year of him at a steal of a 5M cap hit.

Furthermore, he's 28 years old and in his prime, yet he will garner nowhere near his value in a trade.

So from an asset management standpoint, Demko represents a massive amount of lost value.

It's a huge loss, and people in the management circles know about this too, there was rumblings 2 seasons ago of a GM suggesting that he won't go near Demko, saying that his playstyle will hurt his hip, now we know that it's more than that, his knee needs to compensate for the hip issues.. Which further depreciates his value. So I don't really know what we can do if his market value is lower than the value he gives us when he is healthy. Do we keep him until he walks to UFA? Or will Allvin manage his asset and trade him for market value while he is still valuable to the team..... and risk public outrage?

All of this lays the blame somewhat on the feet of Clarke, which puts him in this current uncomfortable situation where he is quasi demoted.

 

[SillyRabbit]

It's a huge loss, and people in the management circles know about this too, there was rumblings 2 seasons ago of a GM suggesting that he won't go near Demko, saying that his playstyle will hurt his hip, now we know that it's more than that, his knee needs to compensate for the hip issues.. Which further depreciates his value. So I don't really know what we can do if his market value is lower than the value he gives us when he is healthy. Do we keep him until he walks to UFA? Or will Allvin manage his asset and trade him for market value while he is still valuable to the team..... and risk public outrage?

All of this lays the blame somewhat on the feet of Clarke, which puts him in this current uncomfortable situation where he is quasi demoted.

I think if we were going to make a run with a healthy Demko, it was last season.

Miller, Hughes, Boeser and Demko were all having career years. Zadorov, Suter and Lindholm looked excellent in the playoffs.

We just needed Demko and Boeser to not get hurt, and Pettersson to not have been in a slump.

I think that you hope that Demko returns this season and looks great, and then you attempt to trade a "healthy" Demko in the offseason to a team that desperately needs goaltending for as large of a return as you can get (which will still be much less than Demko's actual value).

 

[Raistlin]

I think if we were going to make a run with a healthy Demko, it was last season.

Miller, Hughes, Boeser and Demko were all having career years. Zadorov, Suter and Lindholm looked excellent in the playoffs.

We just needed Demko and Boeser to not get hurt, and Pettersson to not have been in a slump.

I think that you hope that Demko returns this season and looks great, and then you attempt to trade a "healthy" Demko in the offseason to a team that desperately needs goaltending for as large of a return as you can get (which will still be much less than Demko's actual value).

What does that do to our "window" then? Ride Lankinen and Silovs against Stars, Avs and VGK? Just playing devil's advocate, trading Demko this off season will be closing half the window, unless the return is Wallstedt or Knight or some high pedigree goalie of the future. I'm not too sold on Silovs.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

 

[HairyKneel]

Actually I don't think he did and the recovery time has far elapsed for that type injury.
I researched what has been said and if he has it he can't do knee bends let alone the splits. Walking would also be almost impossible so I think they just found some obscure injury to mask the real one. Wasn't it Dahli that announced what it was?

Come on Gomes.

 

[theguardianII]

Will Demko be rushed now?
He says he won't be but he the team will need him even more now.

 

[rypper]

Will Demko be rushed now?
He says he won't be but he the team will need him even more now.

No, he will not be.

 

[tanti9]

Please excuse me if this was already answered earlier (not going back and reading pages lol). Why can't Demko play some Abbotsford games (conditioning stint) right now to fully test his knee before NHL game action. An AHL game (Demko in a game situation) would truly test his knee out, wouldn't it?

Again, I am sorry if this was answered earlier.

 

[logan5]

We’re at the “light at the end of the tunnel” phase. Sweet. So another 2 or 3 months.

 

[VanJack]

It'll be very interesting to see what the Canucks do with their goaltending situation, once Demko is healthy and back between the pipes. I assume they go with Demko-Lankinen in Vancouver; while Silovs is shipped to Abbotsford.

But that leaves three goalies vying for playing time in the AHL--not an ideal scenario long term.

Maybe a trade? I see Carolina is in the market for a goaltender as Freddy Andersson is out for at least 8-12 weeks or even longer. The 'Canes have a lot of pieces, including some interesting d-men. What would a guy like Lankinen fetch for the Canucks?

 

[F A N]

It'll be very interesting to see what the Canucks do with their goaltending situation, once Demko is healthy and back between the pipes. I assume they go with Demko-Lankinen in Vancouver; while Silovs is shipped to Abbotsford.

But that leaves three goalies vying for playing time in the AHL--not an ideal scenario long term.

Maybe a trade? I see Carolina is in the market for a goaltender as Freddy Andersson is out for at least 8-12 weeks or even longer. The 'Canes have a lot of pieces, including some interesting d-men. What would a guy like Lankinen fetch for the Canucks?

Unless the Canucks are out of the playoff race, the Canucks should not trade Lankinen.

Edit: Of course if someone gives us a deal we can't refuse then yes trade Lankinen.

 

[Hodgy]

Colour me not too optimistic or excited. I mean, its great Demko is coming back soon, but I just don't have much confidence that he won't suffer some set back or reinjure himself. He's going to have to play a good year or so without any serious injury before I start to have confidence in his health.

 

[kanucks25]

Please excuse me if this was already answered earlier (not going back and reading pages lol). Why can't Demko play some Abbotsford games (conditioning stint) right now to fully test his knee before NHL game action. An AHL game (Demko in a game situation) would truly test his knee out, wouldn't it?

Again, I am sorry if this was answered earlier.

I'm sure a conditioning stint is possible, but for whatever reason bonafide veterans are rarely sent down that road. They didn't even do it with Joshua despite there being a lot of talk about it.

Besides it seems like Demko is not game ready yet in general, AHL or NHL.

 

[Regal]

Unless the Canucks are out of the playoff race, the Canucks should not trade Lankinen.

Edit: Of course if someone gives us a deal we can't refuse then yes trade Lankinen.

Even if they are out I’d be more interested in trying to re-sign him than trade him. Obviously depends on the ask (certainly a decent raise) but with Demko’s health it’ll be important to have another guy you feel comfortable with regularly starting games next year. This year might have already been a write off if Lankinen wasn’t signed .

 

[F A N]

Even if they are out I’d be more interested in trying to re-sign him than trade him. Obviously depends on the ask (certainly a decent raise) but with Demko’s health it’ll be important to have another guy you feel comfortable with regularly starting games next year. This year might have already been a write off if Lankinen wasn’t signed .

I think it also depends on how Lankinen finishes the season. If he plays like an above average starter, I don't see Lankinen signing an extension here unless he's being brought back as at least a 1A/1B option (which is often reflected in the money).

 

[David71]

Colour me not too optimistic or excited. I mean, its great Demko is coming back soon, but I just don't have much confidence that he won't suffer some set back or reinjure himself. He's going to have to play a good year or so without any serious injury before I start to have confidence in his health.

isnt it his last contract year with vancouver this year..? even if they dont make the playoffs. its time to find a reliable starter who wont get hurt everytime.

 

[The Stig]

If I'm the Canucks brass, I send Demko to Abbotsford on a conditioning stint and have him play today against Colorado. Maybe even just a half game.

 

[lawrence]

Unless the Canucks are out of the playoff race, the Canucks should not trade Lankinen.

Edit: Of course if someone gives us a deal we can't refuse then yes trade Lankinen.

Sell high !

He’s on team Finland lol!

 

[Regal]

isnt it his last contract year with vancouver this year..? even if they dont make the playoffs. its time to find a reliable starter who wont get hurt everytime.

No, he’s signed for next year as well

 

[PavelBure10]

Anyone see the back of Demkos mask? For one he has the Gaudreau Brothers initials on the back which is very classy of him.
He also has the Canucks retired banners on the back, Smyl, Linden, Bure, Naslund and the Sedins. While someone wearing a Luongo jersey is staring at the open spot for a banner. I'm guessing this is Demkos way of insinuating Luongos name should be in there amongst the Canucks greatest aswell.

Pretty neat