Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote provided an update on Friday about goaltender Thatcher Demko after the team called up another goalie from the AHL. The development sheds light on the reasons behind Demko’s current absence from the lineup.
Following a prolonged stretch of injuries between April 2024 and the end of the 2024–25 season, reports suggested that the Canucks planned to reduce Demko’s workload for the 2025–26 campaign. The aim was to keep him appearing in roughly 45 to 50 games, rather than pushing beyond 60 as in previous years.
“Vancouver enters this season with a significant investment in net, one that sets Demko up to be as rested as possible for the pointy end of the campaign when the games matter most. With Kevin Lankinen in tow on an expensive contract for a 1B netminder, the Canucks are hoping to manage Demko's minutes and keep him in and around the 50-start mark this upcoming season.”
These insights from Thomas Drance, shared in early September, highlight the club’s cautious approach in balancing Demko’s health with their long-term playoff ambitions.
The Vancouver Canucks are carefully managing Thatcher Demko’s workload this season to safeguard his health and prepare for decisive games later in the campaign.