The Vancouver Canucks might have their next franchise goaltender in Thatcher Demko.
Ever since the Vancouver Canucks traded Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers, they’ve been searching for a franchise goaltender. They were hoping Jacob Markstrom (part of the return for Luongo) could be that guy. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. But Markstrom wound up bridging the gap between their last franchise goalie and their next one – Thatcher Demko.
When the Canucks traded Anders Nilsson to the Ottawa Senators, it wasn’t about getting a draft pick or getting Mike McKenna (though Utica likely isn’t happy they lost him on waivers). It was all about creating room on the NHL roster for Demko.
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The rest of the Canucks season should serve one purpose – get him ready to be an NHL starter. Demko is mostly ready because Vancouver allowed him to marinate nicely in the AHL, as he has spent the last two seasons as the primary netminder for the Utica Comets. This came after serving as the starting goalie for Boston College for three seasons.
Even though he has benefitted greatly from the patience the Canucks have had with him, Demko will have some rough bumps. That’s fine. This season isn’t about the playoffs for the Canucks.
If they make it? Fantastic! But if the Canucks don’t make the postseason, that’s fine because the primary objective 2018-19 season was never to make the playoffs to begin with. Appearing to be close to a playoff spot as 2019 begins doesn’t change a thing.
Vancouver has 37 games remaining this season. If they’re smart, Demko will start somewhere between 20 and 30 of them, assuming no injuries. This should set him up nicely to start around 50 games next season when the Canucks will hopefully be more competitive.
Just about every single goaltending move the Canucks have made since the 2014 NHL Draft has been made with Demko in mind. The signing of Anders Nilsson in 2017 was made so Vancouver wouldn’t feel rushed to bring their 2014 second round pick up. Keeping Richard Bachman around served the same purpose. Trading Nilsson was done because Demko has proven he’s ready for the next level.
Demko relies on his athleticism, but at the same time, his positioning has improved every season. It’s nice to have that athleticism as a fallback option. But ultimately, what separates the good goaltenders from the great ones is their positioning. Demko has shown he has both in the AHL for an extended period of time. He’s shown it at every single level of hockey. Now it’s time for Demko to show it in the NHL and give the Canucks another reason for hope.