Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Canucks to Address Future of Thatcher Demko This Week

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Jan 27, 2026 10:12 AM ET

According to TSN insider Darren Dreger, “Amid reporting/speculating on Thatcher Demko’s season in question, results of his recent medical testing could be available today. The Canucks are expected to address his direction this week.”

What exactly that means isn’t clear. Is this a decision about his short-term or long-term future? Are the Canucks thinking about how to approach the rest of this season? Or, is this about whether Demko is the right fit at all?

Many have questioned the team’s decision to re-sign Demko in the first place. Injuries were a known concern, and instead of letting him play out the season without an extension to see if he could stay healthy, they inked him to a new deal. The Canucks essentially took on all the risk and are now realizing that he could be lost for another season, his third season in a row.

Is It Time to Shut Demko Down?

If the Canucks truly want to protect Thatcher Demko as a long-term asset, the decision is simple: shut him down and get him back to 100 percent.

His pattern has been impossible to ignore. He returns, looks sharp, appears close to full strength — and then the issue resurfaces. Whether it’s the same injury or a related one is beside the point. What matters is that something clearly isn’t right, and continuing to push him through it isn’t helping the player or the team.

As Jamie McLennan points out, even if Demko believes he’s ready, that can’t be the deciding factor. Athletes want to play — especially elite ones — but protecting a franchise goaltender sometimes forces them to get out of their own way. The Canucks need to identify exactly why this keeps happening and ensure it’s fully resolved before he sees another game this season.

With Vancouver struggling and the playoff picture slipping away, short-term wins shouldn’t outweigh Demko’s long-term health. Shutting him down now allows the medical staff to eliminate uncertainty, remove the mental stress of repeated setbacks, and give Demko a true reset heading into next year.

There’s little doubt about the kind of goaltender Demko is when he’s healthy. When he feels comfortable and confident in his body, he’s a top-tier netminder in this league. But watching him leave games again and battle through recurring issues isn’t just physically taxing — it’s mentally draining.

At this point, the responsible move isn’t hoping it holds together. It’s making sure it’s fixed — once and for all.

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

More must-reads: