It sounds like Thatcher Demko, the Vancouver Canucks’ star goaltender, is dealing with a serious chronic injury, as reported by NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.
This injury, which can’t be corrected by surgery or other procedures, will require Demko to adjust the way he practices and plays. Friedman revealed in his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Canucks may have rushed Demko back too quickly from a lower-body injury during the regular season, which impacted his recovery and potentially contributed to his inability to stay healthy during the playoffs.
In the lead-up to the playoffs, Demko was asked to prove his readiness by playing two regular-season games. While he showed strong performances in both, particularly in a 4-1 win against Calgary, he wasn’t fully healthy. He did start Game 1 of the playoffs, a win against Nashville, but he didn’t play again afterward, likely due to his injury.
The most concerning part of this news is that the injury is chronic and not fixable through surgery, meaning Demko will need to learn to manage and play through it long-term. Friedman even speculated that Demko might not be ready to start the upcoming NHL season due to this ongoing issue. This situation places both Demko and the Canucks in a difficult spot, as managing a chronic injury can be unpredictable, particularly for a goaltender, where physical demands are extremely high.
