Player Discussion Thatcher Demko

[LordBacon]

Hate to say it but I think we really should consider letting Demmer go,
it's gonna be a huge risk carrying that next contract of his (unless he goes for dirt cheap which I doubt)

 

[arttk]

Hate to say it but I think we really should consider letting Demmer go,
it's gonna be a huge risk carrying that next contract of his (unless he goes for dirt cheap which I doubt)

i think with his injury history, nobody is really going to give term to him. I think at this rate, if we give him like a 3 year contract, that would probably be better that what other teams would be willing to offer.

 

[Diablo2020]

At some point diehard Canuck fans have to reluctantly move off the idea that Demko is just the recipient of some 'bad injury luck'.

If his injuries aren't yet 'chronic', we have to accept that we might getting 'close'. When he hits 30, it's hard to see any scenario where the injury absences don't just magically go away.

It obviously leaves the Canucks in tough spot. They've taken excellent goaltending for granted so long, it's going to be a tough transition to land in the same goalie swamp that most of the rest of the NHL faces.

Lankinen goes from 'Plan B or C' to Plan A in a heck of a hurry.

If im not mistaken, the last asset we used on goaltending was a 2nd round pick for Mika Noronen.

Since then we've been gifted Luongo, Miller, Markstrom, Demko and Lankinen from the hockey gods.

They gods even propped up Eddie Lack and Arturs Silovs as being capable for us in a pinch while the others transitioned or recovered.

Your right we have taken it for granted for so long, were blessed, and we could soon find ourselves in tough in a goalie swamp...

.. But thats what all the goalie sacrifices in the 2000s was for.

Dont think for a second we are running out of that juju. We sacrificed ALOT of tendys back in the day we are nowhere close to run out.

Demko like Schneider before him is just us adding a new twist because we're bored. Drafted and developed, debilitating injuries.

Now sign Lankinen to his 5 x4 and lets see what other goaltending gifts and gods have in store.

Teams like Columbus have had one legit starter in their existance. We find them everywhere.

Trust the fact we sacrificed about 30 more Steve Mason's than they have and the gods owe us still.

 

[Breakers]

Unlucky guy

Body broke down before that final deal

He won’t get anything over 4 years
And I wouldn’t touch his next contract

 

[Nucky]

Crazy how that “anonymous nhl executive” predicted this. Most of us(including myself) scoffed at that comment at the time.

Sucks for Demko though, must be frustrating knowing your body is breaking down and being a starter in the NHL might not be possible if he wants to stay relatively healthy.

The best cope I have is that he was rehabbing all of last summer so ideally he finishes the season relatively healthy and can have more of a typical off-season of training this summer.

 

[sandwichbird2023]

I thought Demko left the Leafs game with an upper body injury? How did that turned into a lower body injury that is keeping him out week to week, after already having 10 days off since the incident?

Poor guy, looking like his career is nearing the end. I hope he has a full recovery and a long career but at this rate it really doesn't look good.

 

[Ita]

I would not resign him for longer than 2 years. I also doubt many teams will be lining up to offer him a contract.

 

[VanJack]

If im not mistaken, the last asset we used on goaltending was a 2nd round pick for Mika Noronen.

Since then we've been gifted Luongo, Miller, Markstrom, Demko and Lankinen from the hockey gods.

They gods even propped up Eddie Lack and Arturs Silovs as being capable for us in a pinch while the others transitioned or recovered.

Your right we have taken it for granted for so long, were blessed, and we could soon find ourselves in tough in a goalie swamp...

.. But thats what all the goalie sacrifices in the 2000s was for.

Dont think for a second we are running out of that juju. We sacrificed ALOT of tendys back in the day we are nowhere close to run out.

Demko like Schneider before him is just us adding a new twist because we're bored. Drafted and developed, debilitating injuries.

Now sign Lankinen to his 5 x4 and lets see what other goaltending gifts and gods have in store.

Teams like Columbus have had one legit starter in their existance. We find them everywhere.

Trust the fact we sacrificed about 30 more Steve Mason's than they have and the gods owe us still.

Obviously Ian Clark can't take credit for Luongo or Schneider, but beginning with Markstrom, he's had a huge influence on the netminders the Canucks acquired or drafted over the years.

So it's no accident that Vancouver has enjoyed quite a run of excellent goaltending. Particularly impressive has been the guys he helped guide the Canucks to on the UFA market. Goalies like DeSmith and Lankinen this year, have come in and preformed phenomenally well for peanuts on the contract front.

It'll be interesting to see now that Clark has a reduced role on the Canucks--whether they continue to uncover netminders who were underrated and come to Vancouver and improve their games dramatically.

And speaking of great Canuck goaltending, I always thought Ryan Miller was almost criminally underrated during his time in Vancouver Granted he was well into his 30's by the time he arrived. But he backstopped some truly awful Canuck teams.

I guess you could say that the only goalie who really flopped badly was Braden Holtby. But after Markstrom bolted, the Canucks were in a tough spot and I suspect Benning had more to do with this signing than Clark.

 

[StreetHawk]

Been a while since Van drafted a goalie. Ty Young was 3 drafts ago and first year pro now. Aku K is at Harvard in year 3 (but the age of a true SR). Appeared only in 1 game as a FR and 18 as a SO. Currently 15 appearances but 715 minutes played which is just under 12 full games. So, like 4 relief appearances or more.

I don't think even Demko and his agent can argue against the Canucks not talking contract this summer. Or at the very least, it wouldn't be anything long term. Not until he can show he can remain healthy.

He would be like 30 when he hits UFA in 2026. So, that's not really a 7/8 year max term contract given his rash of injuries lately.

 

[Diablo2020]

Obviously Ian Clark can't take credit for Luongo or Schneider, but beginning with Markstrom, he's had a huge influence on the netminders the Canucks acquired or drafted over the years.

So it's no accident that Vancouver has enjoyed quite a run of excellent goaltending. Particularly impressive has been the guys he helped guide the Canucks to on the UFA market. Goalies like DeSmith and Lankinen this year, have come in and preformed phenomenally well for peanuts on the contract front.

It'll be interesting to see now that Clark has a reduced role on the Canucks--whether they continue to uncover netminders who were underrated and come to Vancouver and improve their games dramatically.

And speaking of great Canuck goaltending, I always thought Ryan Miller was almost criminally underrated during his time in Vancouver Granted he was well into his 30's by the time he arrived. But he backstopped some truly awful Canuck teams.

I guess you could say that the only goalie who really flopped badly was Braden Holtby. But after Markstrom bolted, the Canucks were in a tough spot and I suspect Benning had more to do with this signing than Clark.

Clark has had alot to do with it definetly. I forgot Holtsieve in my list thankyou.

And I also agree Miller was underrated and the shelling in St Louis was totally something I feared yet never seen once in Vancity. Him rushing Matt Martin for Troys honor will always be legendary.

Kind of related kind of not..

I always think about the Sabres being cheap and video scouting like 10 years ago. Obviously its come a long way since and more effective.

Then I think of Melvin and his potato..

Then I read 100 stories from bloggers, maybe parotting each other I dunno, and remember I myself seen many many mentions of Lankinen.

So also a part of me says forget Ian Clark and his running of the tendy into the ground and his insistance on white (or black i dunno) pads.

Not to be full moneyball but man I could build a staff full of HF posters and bloggers that would blow these old white men that run NHL clubs outta the water, IMO.

But goalies are the one positional voodoo so I guess an actual expert like Ian or noe Marko could be handy.

 

[VanJack]

In Clark we trust. He'll uncover somebody who fits his mold of a big, athletic goalie who just just lacks refinement and technique.

Looking around the league on Puckpedia, I haven't a clue who that might be. But I'm sure Clark has 'a book' on every guy currently playing in both the NHL and the AHL; and even over in Europe.

 

[sting101]

Hope we draft Ravensbergen this year

 

[Zippgunn]

Done like dinner. Goodbye and thanks for all the memories.

 

[AzNightmare]

How much is Demko worth on a 1 year "show me" deal? That might be his best bet on his next contract.
Although I guess he's still on contract next year to show he can stay healthy and play well, whichever team that would be on.

 

[arttk]

How much is Demko worth on a 1 year "show me" deal? That might be his best bet on his next contract.
Although I guess he's still on contract next year to show he can stay healthy and play well, whichever team that would be on.

hes a UFA, if another team is willing to give me more term he'll most likely take that vs a 1 year deal.

hell if I was his agent I would convince him to take whatever contract that has the most term.

 

[AzNightmare]

hes a UFA, if another team is willing to give me more term he'll most likely take that vs a 1 year deal.

hell if I was his agent I would convince him to take whatever contract that has the most term.

Yeah.. if he's not confident in his body anymore, take the most term he can get and ride off into the sunset.

 

[David71]

I thought Demko left the Leafs game with an upper body injury? How did that turned into a lower body injury that is keeping him out week to week, after already having 10 days off since the incident?

Poor guy, looking like his career is nearing the end. I hope he has a full recovery and a long career but at this rate it really doesn't look good.

it doesnt matter what injury demko has. hes just not reliable enough to be counted on when needed. body breaking down like schinder which kind of sucks. maybe he'll train better in the offseason and someone will offer him a 1yr prove it deal.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

I thought Demko left the Leafs game with an upper body injury? How did that turned into a lower body injury that is keeping him out week to week, after already having 10 days off since the incident?

Thats how it be in Canuck land.

Poor guy, looking like his career is nearing the end. I hope he has a full recovery and a long career but at this rate it really doesn't look good.

Yeah.

I felt that Demko was a very distressed asset before his injury last season.



Sort of related to their weird games with what they tell us on players injury status;

I doubt EP40 was healthy before the 4 nations tournament and only got injured there.

 

[mriswith]

Absolutely tragic. A young franchise goaltender and he lasts less than 200 games as a starter before being cooked. If he was healthy last year we make the cup finals minimum.

Crazy how that “anonymous nhl executive” predicted this. Most of us(including myself) scoffed at that comment at the time.

Sucks for Demko though, must be frustrating knowing your body is breaking down and being a starter in the NHL might not be possible if he wants to stay relatively healthy.

The best cope I have is that he was rehabbing all of last summer so ideally he finishes the season relatively healthy and can have more of a typical off-season of training this summer.

On the one hand, the anonymous exec said he'd trade him because of his hip, not because of his knee. On the other hand, hip and knee injuries go hand in hand.

 

[Breakers]

Damn

back on IR

Just seeing a body disintegrate in front of your eyes

Must suck seeing that money thrown around at goalies and seeing your body do this

 

[VanJack]

Unfortunately unless Demko visits the healing waters at Lourdes and has some sort miracle recovery--this is basically what the Canucks can probably expect for the remainder of his contract here.

He'll be languishing on LTIR not unlike Poolman and Ferland. Sadly, injuries tend to be 'cumulative'. When the 'lower body injuries' start piling up, each recovery takes longer and is more uncertain.

Kind of sad really. One of the most talented goalies in Canuck history, let down by his body. But it happens.

 

[mossey3535]

I give Ian Clark a lot of credit for "calming down" the games of both Marky and Demko, but his trackdown system used the RVH wayyy too much. And his work ethic demands while normally laudable exacerbated the situation. Finally, the system as a whole was showing signs of breaking down (as much as the goalie's bodies) about three seasons ago and he never adapted. I'm glad the Canucks aren't employing him on a daily basis, it was time for new blood and coaches often have a shelf life.

 

[MikeK]

Feel bad for him. I'll be surprised if he's able to secure anything over 2 yrs on his next deal. Dude turns 30 at the end of the year. I don't see a lot of teams lining up to offer a 3 or 4 year term deal.

 

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

19 games left. What are the odds we don't see him back this year?

 

[HockeyWooot]

Feel bad for him. I'll be surprised if he's able to secure anything over 2 yrs on his next deal. Dude turns 30 at the end of the year. I don't see a lot of teams lining up to offer a 3 or 4 year term deal.

I think some bottom half teams would take a flyer.