Canucks get huge Thatcher Demko update ahead of training camp

There was a lot of concern in Vancouver after news broke that Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko suffered a once-in-50-year injury in the final postseason game that could keep him out of training camp in late September.

The 28-year-old last appeared against the Nashville Predators in Game 1 of Round 1 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He helped his club to a 4-2 win, but did not appear in the game for the rest of the series and did not appear at all against the Edmonton Oilers in Round 2, a series the Canucks lost in seven games.

However, according to insider Rick Dhaliwal, Demko is recovering quickly from the mysterious knee injury he suffered on April 22, despite reports to the contrary earlier this summer.

“Good news, I hear Thatcher Demko is back skating and training on the ice this week. That’s a very good sign,” Dhaliwal reported. “A lot of people thought Demko wouldn’t be ready for training camp and the preseason. That has to be a huge boost for the Canucks and a sign of progress… Huge, huge good news for the Canucks.”

Demko had a stellar regular season in 2023-24, going 35-14-2 with a blistering 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. He was a huge part of the Canucks’ first-place finish in the Pacific Division and was nominated for the Vezina Trophy for the first time in his career.

The Canucks will need a healthy Demko if they want to compete for the Stanley Cup again in 2025 — and that’s especially important considering backup Arturs Silovs is also battling an ailment of his own.

Canucks reserve player Arturs Silovs is also struggling with an injury

After the starter was unable to play in Game 2 against the Predators, Demko replaced Silovs, who had been well above average throughout the postseason.

The 23-year-old Latvian held the Preds to a close in the series-clinching Game 6 and has allowed just six goals in his last four games. He also put in an admirable performance against the Oilers’ high-flying offense.

But Silovs was injured last week, just ahead of Latvia’s Olympic qualifying tournament last weekend. Dhaliwal also provided an update on the goalkeeper, saying he is “dealing with inflammation in his knee” but “it is not expected to be a serious injury.”

The plan is for Silovs to arrive in Vancouver this week to be evaluated by team doctors. It makes sense that the Canucks are looking for another goalie — with unrestricted free agent Kevin Lankinen leading the list — and both Demko and Silovs could be out for the start of training camp.

There is hope in British Columbia that both goalies will be fully healthy by the end of September as the Canucks look to build on their stellar 2023-24 season that saw them win the division for the first time since 2013.

Colin Gallant is the senior NHL editor at ClutchPoints. In addition to hockey, he covers the NFL, MLB and tennis. The Hamilton, Ontario native has a master’s degree in journalism from Western University and has previously written for CBC News, The Hockey News and Tennis Canada.