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Trading Thatcher Demko Could Shake the Vancouver Canucks

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Cody Misyk | Last updated Jan 22, 2025 7:58 PM ET

With the recent rumors of Thatcher Demko not wanting to play in Vancouver, worried thoughts begin to form. If Demko is traded, who becomes the go-to man in net for the Vancouver Canucks? Arturs Silovs has shown some promise at times, especially in the playoffs last year. However, is he truly going to be a starter in the NHL? The Canucks will be a top team to watch at the NHL Trade Deadline.

Demko’s Future with the Canucks is Unknown

Thatcher Demko has underperformed this season. He has always been a goalie to have injury issues, which has continued in the 2024-25 season. There is no doubt that Demko is a key piece of the Canucks, but with all the J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson trade rumors, one has to wonder what will happen with Demko.

He will only have one year left on his contract after this season, making it the perfect time to trade him. A Demko trade most likely will not be considered unless one of their star forwards is traded, so the future is currently unknown for the Canucks. They made multiple trades to improve the team around last year’s deadline, acquiring Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Will they be doing the opposite at the 2025 deadline?

"Been a challenging year dating back to the summer…it's been a lot of soul-searching for me over the last few months," says #Canucks Demko.

"I don't know how else to put it: I just haven't been good enough so far."

Hard not to feel for the goalie as he's been through a lot. pic.twitter.com/pOhKHhWnzs
— Noah Strang (@noahstrang_) January 22, 2025

Good Health is Key For Demko

Thatcher Demko’s ability to stay healthy remains a significant question mark. When he’s at full strength, however, he has the potential to be one of the NHL’s top goaltenders. His performance in the 2020 playoff bubble was a prime example of how good he can be. Over four games, Demko posted an extraordinary .985 save percentage and a 0.64 goals-against average. While it was a small sample size, those numbers are almost unheard of in playoff hockey.

During that remarkable stretch, the nickname “Pandemko” emerged—a fitting moniker given the unique circumstances of the 2020 season and Demko’s stellar play. He became one of the standout stories of the playoff bubble. Now, with trade rumors swirling, the question looms: Is Demko’s time with the Vancouver Canucks nearing its end?

The Canucks play the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night in a highly anticipated rematch from Saturday.

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

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