Thatcher Demko Out For The Season

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Cam Stirling | Last updated Jan 28, 2026 2:52 AM ET

The Vancouver Canucks have had one of the worst seasons in recent Canucks history, going just 17-30-5 for 39 points as of January 28th, putting them in last place in the entire league. A major reason for this massive struggle has been the loss of former Vezina Award contending goaltender Thatcher Demko.

Demko has been sidelined for most of the season with various injuries, but President Jim Rutherford and manager Patrick Allvin have just announced that Thatcher Demko is undergoing hip surgery and will be out for the remainder of the 2025-26 NHL season. What has been a dark season for the Vancouver Canucks just got a lot darker, not only for this season but also for the overall future of the team.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that goaltender Thatcher Demko will undergo hip surgery and will not play for the remainder of the 2025.26 season.

DETAILS | https://t.co/HaCWFGccax pic.twitter.com/YCNmtCxVee
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 27, 2026

After what was a dominant 2023-24 NHL season by Thatcher Demko, putting up astronomical numbers, going 35-14 with 5 shutouts, a 2.45 GAA, and a .918 SV% in 51 games played, Demko has just played 43 games in the last two seasons. In the last two seasons, alongside struggling with injuries, Demko has gone 18-18 with 2 shutouts, 2.88 GAA, and an .893 SV%, establishing a massive decline in both health and play.

Demko’s Injury Struggles

Not only has Thatcher Demko clearly been suffering with hip issues all season long, forcing him to need surgery, but Demko has also been dealing with a knee injury ever since he went down in the 2024 NHL Playoffs against the Nashville Predators. It was a rare knee injury, unlike any ligament or meniscus tears; Demko suffered an injury to his popliteus muscle, which is located behind the knee.

After being sidelined for most of the 2024-25 NHL season, Demko makes his glorious return, and the 30-year-old goaltender from San Diego, California, starts dealing with hip issues. It’s not to be overstated that back-to-back serious injuries, especially injuries to the knees and the hips like this can ruin a goaltender’s quality of play tremendously. It begs the question that no Canucks fans want to be confronted with right now: how long does Thatcher Demko have left in his career before his body just can’t sustain the never-ending stress of being a professional athlete?

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This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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