[Speculation] Canucks Testing Goalie Market Amid Thatcher Demko’s Injury

[RWJC]

perhaps a reason why we created some cap space and an additional roster spot in moving out Podz…?

 

 

Canucks Testing Goalie Market Amid Thatcher Demko’s Injury

 

August 20th, 2024 at 3:58pm CST • By Josh Erickson

 

The Canucks are on the hunt for some short-term goalie help on the trade and UFA market, CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal said on Sportsnet 650 Tuesday. That’s because star starter Thatcher Demko is healing slower than expected from the knee injury he sustained early in their first-round series against the Predators and still isn’t 100%, per Dhaliwal.

 

Dhaliwal said it’s unclear if Demko has undergone surgery to address the knee injury, and Vancouver has been concerned about the pace of his rehab as far back as the draft in June.

 

This storyline comes after information about Demko’s return timeline varied wildly throughout the postseason. Multiple reports stated he’d only be out for one series, while others said he would be shut down for the season. The team never officially ruled him out, instead continuously listing him as week-to-week, but he never did return to the lineup after recording a win in Game 1 against the Predators.

 

The Canucks were also rumored to be sniffing around for a veteran name to supplement their crease and provide competition for emerging youngster Arturs Silovs around the draft and free agency, but that never came to fruition. Last year’s No. 2 option, Casey DeSmith, wasn’t brought back and signed a three-year deal with the Stars. Vancouver’s only notable offseason addition between the pipes was former Golden Knights prospect Jiri Patera, who’s meant as a No. 3/4 option behind Silovs.

 

Those rumblings will get louder now with Demko’s status uncertain. The most clear-cut addition for the Canucks would be Kevin Lankinen, the top goalie left on the UFA market. His time as a Predator ended at the hands of Vancouver last season, and he remains unsigned after Nashville opted to sign Scott Wedgewood to replace him as Juuse Saros‘ backup. The 29-year-old Finn was an above-average backup during his two years in Tennessee but was sparsely used, posting a 20-14-1 record and .912 SV% in 35 starts and eight relief appearances. Still, he’d be a cheap pickup, certainly not more than the $2MM he made last year after waiting for this late into August to sign.
 

Some other notable veteran UFA options include Martin Jones and Antti Raanta, but both are significantly older than Lankinen and have a much higher potential for age-related regression. Jones is coming off a resurgent year as the third-stringer for the Maple Leafs, but Raanta’s typically strong but injury-plagued play collapsed last season with a .872 SV% in 24 games for the Hurricanes.

 

On the trade market, funnily enough, Nashville might be one of their first calls. Top goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov has reportedly submitted a trade request to the club, but it’s a situation that could potentially be resolved if they decided to flip Scott Wedgewood, who signed a two-year, $3MM contract with the club on July 1st. He’s spent the last three seasons in the Dallas Stars organization, though he sat out much of the 2021-22 campaign.
 

Wedgewood has played in 53 games over the two seasons since, posting 15 wins and a collective .907 save percentage behind Jake Oettinger. He’s poised to fill the same role in Nashville – ceding a majority of starts to a proven starter and limiting Askarov’s chance at the NHL ice time he’s searching for. With Nashville facing a formal trade request from one of the league’s top goalie prospects, the Canucks could benefit from timing, and reel in another hardy backup to help fill time before Demko’s return – a situation akin to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s platooning while Andrei Vasilevskiy missed time last season.

 

The Canucks may be able to offer that upside in the short-term, but it’ll be hard to move too far from Demko, who’s risen to prominency as he’s taken over Vancouver’s top role. That growth peaked this season, with Demko ranking second in Vezina Trophy after posting a .918 through 51 appearances. He’s signed at a $5MM cap hit through the next two seasons and is likely to hang onto Vancouver’s starting crease through any new additions. That strings out a tight-rope the Canucks will need to walk, as they make the decision between a lofty goalie trade, a free agent signing, or leaning on unproven backups.

 

https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/08/canucks-testing-goalie-market-amid-thatcher-demkos-injury.html#ref=home

 

Edited August 20 by RWJC

[GrammaInTheTub]

Just saw something similar:

 

[Heretic]

Well....doesn't that just suck....

[qwijjibo]

Hope this doesn't turn into a Carey Price type situation.  The injuries have been stacking up and he hasn't put together a healthy season in quite some time. 

[wai_lai416]

If this is true time to explore trade Demko next off season. While he still have a year remaining and we can hopefully get some value. There’s no way I’ll be comfortable in giving him any contract with terms.. he is as injury prone as Cory Schneider if not worse. 

[Canuck You]

Cory Schneider 2.0

[Coconuts]

Askarov to Van e5

[Devron]

Things were running a little too smoothly in Vancouver. Time to stir the pot. Get some clicks and some likes.

[Grinch]

Comfortable with Silvos 

[Michael Scott]

6 minutes ago, qwijjibo said:

Hope this doesn't turn into a Carey Price type situation.  The injuries have been stacking up and he hasn't put together a healthy season in quite some time. 

Durability is an issue with demko. Just sucks since we are looking like a threat.

 

Maybe it's better to trade him.

 

Ottawa gets:
Demko
4th from Vancouver 

2nd from Nashville

Vancouver gets:
Ullmark
Askarov

Nashville gets:
Silovs
1st from ottawa

 

not sure how fair the values are, but something g like this would be ideal.

 

Askarov requested a trade. Nashville gets an other goalie prospect who looked good in playoffs plus a first.

 

Vancouver uses demko and silvos, bit get ulmark to replace demko this year. Askarov for the future. 

 

ottawa gets a younger goalie that is in his prime. Maybe the 1st is too much on their end but hopefully a 2nd and 4th help.

 

Edited August 21 by Michael Scott

[qwijjibo]

1 minute ago, Michael Scott said:

Durability is an issue with demko. Just sucks since we are looking like a threat.

 

Maybe it's better to trade him.

 

Ottawa gets:
Demko
4th from Vancouver 

2nd from Ottawa

Vancouver gets:
Ullmark
Askarov

Nashville gets:
Silovs
1st from ottawa

 

not sure how fair the values are, but something g like this would be ideal.

 

Askarov requested a trade. Nashville gets an other goalie prospect who looked good in playoffs plus a first.

 

Vancouver uses demko and silvos, bit get ulmark to replace demko this year. Askarov for the future. 

 

ottawa gets a younger goalie that is in his prime. Maybe the 1st is too much on their end but hopefully a 2nd and 4th help.

 

Ottawa literally just signed Ulmark. I think theyre pretty happy to have him. I can't see them being interested in moving him for a guy you can't count on to stay healthy.  Also can't see Vancouver coming away with the best two goalies while only giving up a guy who's career may be over and a lesser goalie prospect (in comparison to Askarov) 

[Michael Scott]

1 minute ago, qwijjibo said:

Ottawa literally just signed Ulmark. I think theyre pretty happy to have him. I can't see them being interested in moving him for a guy you can't count on to stay healthy.  Also can't see Vancouver coming away with the best two goalies while only giving up a guy who's career may be over and a lesser goalie prospect (in comparison to Askarov) 

Ottawa didn't sign Ulmark. They traded for him. No guarantee he signs with them. 

 

While silvos may not have the same "pedigree" as Askarov, he has played in the NHL playoffs and did well. Askarov asking for a trade doesn't help. I'm sure they could get a better prospect. 

 

I am curious to see what the return for Askarov is, if Nashville trades him.  

 

Ulmark played on Boston. How much of his success is from team defense. Demko played amazing for us when we had a poor defense. 

[Bob Long]

16 minutes ago, Coconuts said:

Askarov to Van e5

 

Laughing at the e5.

 

Wouldnt mind the depth. Barry will tell us to pound sand tho.

[qwijjibo]

4 minutes ago, Michael Scott said:

Ottawa didn't sign Ulmark. They traded for him. No guarantee he signs with them. 

 

While silvos may not have the same "pedigree" as Askarov, he has played in the NHL playoffs and did well. Askarov asking for a trade doesn't help. I'm sure they could get a better prospect. 

 

I am curious to see what the return for Askarov is, if Nashville trades him.  

 

Ulmark played on Boston. How much of his success is from team defense. Demko played amazing for us when we had a poor defense. 

It's a catch 22 situation.  Nobody is going to trade thier starter for Demko unless he can stay healthy. At which point why would Vancouver trade him 

[gizmo2337]

Demko should be back in time for the playoffs. Who do we sign with the extra cap space? 

[smithers joe]

does this mean the silly season is over or is it still being silly?

[Devron]

13 minutes ago, smithers joe said:

does this mean the silly season is over or is it still being silly?

Still being silly. People want something to talk about while we wait for hockey again 

[wai_lai416]

41 minutes ago, Michael Scott said:

Durability is an issue with demko. Just sucks since we are looking like a threat.

 

Maybe it's better to trade him.

 

Ottawa gets:
Demko
4th from Vancouver 

2nd from Nashville

Vancouver gets:
Ullmark
Askarov

Nashville gets:
Silovs
1st from ottawa

 

not sure how fair the values are, but something g like this would be ideal.

 

Askarov requested a trade. Nashville gets an other goalie prospect who looked good in playoffs plus a first.

 

Vancouver uses demko and silvos, bit get ulmark to replace demko this year. Askarov for the future. 

 

ottawa gets a younger goalie that is in his prime. Maybe the 1st is too much on their end but hopefully a 2nd and 4th help.

 

lol Ottawa get fleeced upside down.. they give up a Vezina winner for a injury prone goalie that’s not even ready to start the season likely on top they give up a 1st?? While Canucks gives up an injury prone goalie for a former Vezina winner thats not a big downgrade from Demko and is not injury prone on top gets the best goalie prospect in the nhl?? Love to get some of what u are smoking 

[Rekker]

Fuk me. Why can't we have nice things. 

[tas]

god, watching the telephone game in real time. go listen to what dhaliwal said for yourselves instead of this ridiculous misrepresentation. 

[Bob Long]

23 minutes ago, smithers joe said:

does this mean the silly season is over or is it still being silly?

 

Silly never sleeps.

[Jester13]

6 minutes ago, tas said:

god, watching the telephone game in real time. go listen to what dhaliwal said for yourselves instead of this ridiculous misrepresentation. 

Josh Erikson had to make a bit of money during these dog days of summer. 

[RWJC]

12 minutes ago, tas said:

god, watching the telephone game in real time. go listen to what dhaliwal said for yourselves instead of this ridiculous misrepresentation. 

 

“Training camp is around the corner, and here we are in mid-August, and nobody’s really talking about Demko [and] what’s going on,” Dhaliwal replied when asked what the latest he’s hearing on Demko. “What I am hearing is that he is progressing, but no timetable as to when he’s going to be 100% healthy.”

 

 

“That means for me, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks continue to poke around the goalie market again,” Dhaliwal added. “The Canucks may need insurance, just in case, which is a good move on their part. This is the time of the season to talk to players’ agents about PTOs (professional tryouts).”

“Now, Demko’s coming off the back-to-back knee injuries, so sometimes rehab is fast, and sometimes rehab is slow,” Dhaliwal said. “Canucks, I’ve been told, have been worried about Demko’s rehab going back to the NHL draft. I think by that time, Demko had not skated since Game 7 against the Oilers.”
 

“I’m not hearing any setbacks on Demko. [I’m] not hearing anything super bad about Demko’s rehab. But sometimes you’ve got to be prepared for the unprepared. So I think they might be poking around the goalie market, maybe a PTO, who knows.”
 

“I asked if he had any medical procedures this summer, and I get absolutely radio silence on the other end,” Dhaliwal expressed. “But we have to understand; this is your starting goaltender who’s coming off two serious injuries. He needs time; he’s a big goaltender. This is why the importance of a good veteran backup like Casey DeSmith is so important.”
 

 

“I’m not super concerned about Demko; I just think you have to protect yourselves. I just heard this week that they’re again poking around the goalie market, just making some calls, that’s all. The red flag is not out; he should be okay. But maybe his rehab is not going as fast as some like.”

 

 

[Ghostsof1915]

1 hour ago, smithers joe said:

does this mean the silly season is over or is it still being silly?

STOP THAT!

STOP THAT!

IT'S SILLY! 

 

 

[Don Brodka Jr]