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Canucks Get Clearer Injury Timeline on Thatcher Demko

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 10:40 AM ET

The Vancouver Canucks will be without star goaltender Thatcher Demko for the next couple of weeks after he left a recent game with what appeared to be a groin injury. The injury reportedly occurred while making a save, and early reports suggest it’s a minor issue expected to sideline him for 2 to 3 weeks.

According to Frank Seravalli, the injury is not connected to Demko’s previous knee problem or the maintenance days he took last week. That’s a bit of relief for the Canucks, who have heavily relied on their number-one goaltender amidst a 4-5-1 start to the season.

If the two-to-three-week timeline holds, Demko could miss anywhere from five to nine games, including matchups against Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida, Dallas, Calgary, and potentially Anaheim, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Colorado. With backup Kevin Lankinen already handling a full workload, the Canucks may need to rely on Jiri Patera to step in and share the crease during Demko’s absence.

The news could have been much worse, but the Canucks will still be tested without Demko available. Injuries continue to be an issue when it comes to his career, and it was only a couple of days ago that head coach Adam Foote tried to explain a maintenance day as the organization asking him to take care of himself and move slowly to avoid other injuries. It seems like, no matter what Demko does, the injury bug is going to bite him.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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