Thatcher Demko Injury Timeline Revealed For Canucks

 

Thatcher Demko has had a pretty heavy workload this season for the Vancouver Canucks between the pipes. Now he'll be forced to take a paid vacation due to injury, but it sounds like the team has avoided any catastrophic scenarios.

"I'm also hearing so far it's a best case scenario for the #Canucks. He will likely miss less than a month.."@DhaliwalSports shares what he is hearing about Thatcher Demko's health and a possible timeline for return. https://t.co/h4e2SKM7eJ pic.twitter.com/4YgIM8XcqN

— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) March 11, 2024

The injury was suffered in the second period of Sunday's 5-0 Vancouver victory over the Winnipeg Jets. 

"I'm ...hearing so far it's a best-case scenario for the Canucks. He will likely miss less than a month," said insider Rick Dhaliwal today, while other reports having him missing two-to-four weeks. All of this means that the star goalie will be back in net in time to get in a few starts to get sharp again before the playoffs. 

"The good news is that it's not the groin... and not even hip related... It's not any injuries from his past." A groin injury kept the star netminder out for three months last season. 

As noted by Dhaliwal, "history has shown that when Demko is overplayed he gets hurt". He's currently 3rd in the NHL with 49 games started in goal, and he sports a 34-13-2 mark, along with a 2.47 goals against average and a .917 save percentage.

Backup netminder Casey DeSmith has started just three games in the last six weeks. This is the best timing for Demko to have a rest and be ready for the Cup run.

DeSmith has started 17 games this season for the Canucks, with an 8-4-5 record, a 2.85 GAA and an .898 Sv%.

Photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports