The Vancouver Canucks will begin their preseason on Tuesday. Fans, players, and staff are excited after training camp, and meaningful games will soon be played. All the Canucks star players will be (hopefully) ready by opening night. However, there will be one that won’t. One of the big stories is that Thatcher Demko will not be ready by the season opener on October 9 against the Calgary Flames. That is because he is still dealing with that nagging injury from last spring. That begs the question: What will the Canucks goaltending situation be like without Demko?
What in the World is Demko Hurting From?
The Canucks goaltending was a huge reason for their success last season. Demko was a Vezina trophy nominee and Casey DeSmith and later Arturs Silovs held the fort as backups.
Demko hurt his knee on March 9 in a win over the Winnipeg Jets. He did not return until game one of the first round against the Nashville Predators. However, it seemed he injured that same knee, did not play for the rest of the playoffs, and was still dealing with the injury in the summer. The Canucks goaltending situation got weird.
Demko spoke to the media at training camp after some on-ice sessions. He spoke about how strange his injury was and how there isn’t another player suffering from it and is not sure exactly when he’ll be close to returning.
On Monday morning, Kevin Woodley of NHL.Com and InGoal Magazine was on the Halford and Brough show on Sportsnet 650 and talked about Demko’s injury. He reported that Demko was dealing with an injury in the “Popliteus.”
🗣️"I can clear up one thing here. There's no longer uncertainty about what Demko's injury actually is. Get your WebMD out and look up…'Popliteus'."
▶️ @KevinisInGoal gives @MikeHalford604 & @SadClubCommish specifics on Thatcher Demko's injury.
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) September 23, 2024
According to the National Library of Medicine, the popliteus is a major stabilizing muscle of the knee located in the back of it and it basically unlocks and locks the knee joints. They also say recovery time is three to 16 weeks.
There isn’t much known as to how severe Demko’s injury is and that explains why he wouldn’t give a timeline at training camp.
Canucks Goaltending Situation: Enter Kevin Lankinen
Silovs was a great story in the playoffs. He played very well in the two rounds against Nashville and the Edmonton Oilers.
But as good as the Latvian goaltender was, there needed to be an experienced goaltender in the mix with Demko out. Silovs seems to be progressing very well with his development. However, it is a big ask for him to be a regular starter for a length of time, so the Canucks needed someone to compete with him while Demko recovers.
That is where Kevin Lankinen comes in. The Canucks signed him to a one-year deal worth $875,000. That isn’t a bad deal at all. The 25-year-old goaltender from Finland spent the last season with the Predators. Before Nashville, he spent three seasons in the Chicago Blackhawks organization.
Last season, Lankinen was the backup to Juuse Saros. He played 24 regular season games going 11-6-0 and had a goals-against average of 2.85 and a save percentage of .908. Those numbers may not be the best but for a backup, they are respectable. Lankinen also comes with experience as he has played 112 games in the NHL. According to Daily Hive, he was among the best goaltenders at 5 on 5. For just $875,000, that seems like a steal.
Kevin Lankinen signs with #Canucks
He's been an effective backup in the NHL. He will likely have a better opportunity in the coming months.https://t.co/R01aaKVYGG pic.twitter.com/ZY2JBr4wxY
— Frozen Tools (@FrozenTools) September 21, 2024
Can Lankinen and Silovs Step Up in Demko’s Absence?
It is a big ask to fill the void of Demko. After all, when he is healthy, he is one of the best goaltenders in the league.
Lankinen brings the experience and has shown he can be reliable in the crease. But depending on how long Demko is out, can he do it for an extended amount of time? Silovs may still be 23 but the playoff experience could be the catalyst for better things for him in his career.
On one hand, the Canucks have a backup who could succeed Demko as the team’s starter in the future. On the other, they have a goaltender who has been proven to be a reliable backup in the NHL.
Who will start on opening night? That is to be determined. It’s not Vancouver without a goaltender controversy.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
