Goaltending has always been a hot topic surrounding the Vancouver Canucks. On Canada Day, it once again became a talking point.
The Canucks announced on Tuesday morning that they have extended goaltender Thatcher Demko. His current five-year deal with a five-million-dollar AAV is up at the end of the upcoming season. After that, he will earn 8.5 million dollars per season for three years. When that contract is up, Demko will be 33. (He is turning 30 in December)
When his new deal kicks in, Demko will be tied with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets for the third highest-paid goaltender in the NHL.
“Thatcher is one of the top goalies in the National Hockey League and a key leader in our locker room,” said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin in the press release. “His desire to continue his career in Vancouver says a lot about what we are trying to accomplish and where this organization is headed. Demmer is one of the hardest-working players on our team and gives our group great confidence when he takes the net. A complete package of size, strength, rebound control, and athletic ability, our players know that they have an opportunity to win each and every game he plays.”
There will also be a no-move clause in all three years of Demko’s new deal according to CHEK TV’s Rick Dhaliwal.
A big risk and a Demko bounce back is needed.
The Canucks now have 1A and 1B between the pipes. Kevin Lankinen exceeded expectations last season. As a result, he was rewarded with a five-year extension worth 4.5 million dollars per season.
As for Demko, he is one of the best netminders in the NHL, when healthy. Those are the key words: When healthy.
Demko has dealt with numerous injuries over the past few years including a popliteus injury that kept him sidelined for a large chunk of last season. For next season and beyond, the Canucks are betting that Demko gets back to his Vezina nominee-level form.
Throughout the years, the American netminder has made unreal saves to keep the Canucks in games. But can he still do it?
Lankinen proved he can carry the load as a starter. However, it will not look good if Demko struggles with form and/or injuries over the next few years. With him nearing 30, he hypothetically has a few good years left in him. But his injury history could potentially cause a faster decline, which is the worst-case scenario. Canucks fans should be hoping for the best-case scenario: Demko becoming elite again.
Both Demko and Elias Pettersson desperately need huge bounce-back years if the Canucks want to be serious next season.
Is an Arturs Silovs trade imminent?
Now what what could this mean for Arturs Silvos?
The Latvian goalie is fresh off leading the Abbotsford Canucks to their first Calder Cup title. As a result, he won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP.
Silovs did play with Vancouver last season and did impress in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs with Demko out. However, he had a 2-6-1 record last season, coughed up a 3.65 GAA and had an abysmal .881 save percentage. Silovs also struggled with stopping long shots from the point.
Silovs’ stock has risen due to his heroics with Abbotsford and with Demko and Lankinen locked up, it makes sense to trade him. Plus, the Canucks could lose him for nothing on waivers in the fall.
Silovs could potentially be part of a trade package that could bring a second-line centre to Vancouver. But that is not as easy as it sounds.
With Demko staying for the next four years and Lankinen for the next five, Silovs’ days in Vancouver are on thin ice.
