Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.
An insider has given a big injury update on Vancouver Canucks star goaltender Thatcher Demko, who has been on the sidelines for the majority of November.
Demko missed the team’s back-to-back earlier this month against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche for maintenance reasons, according to the team, however upon his return to the crease on November 11th, he managed to play just one period before leaving the game with a suspected lower-body injury.
“Patrik Allvin says Thatcher Demko is week-to-week.” Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 said nearly two weeks ago.
NHL insider gives big injury update on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko
While making an appearance on Halford & Brough In The Morning on Friday, National Hockey League insider Rick Dhaliwal issued an update on Thatcher Demko and his timeline to return.
According to Dhaliwal, Demko has already been back on the ice twice this week as his recovery from that lower-body injury continues and he added that while he’s still out week-to-week, he might not be too far away from returning to the crease.
Dhaliwal went on to add that there’s no truth to rumors that Thatcher Demko is trying to rush back to give him an opportunity to make the United States’ roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Demko has been working very hard to earn a place on that Olympic team so it was tough to see him go down with an injury earlier this month and who knows, if he’s able to return in December before the United States has to submit their roster to the IIHF, then perhaps he could land a spot, even if it’s just as their third goaltender behind Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck, the latter of whom is also currently injury.
With Demko still out on that week-to-week timeline, it’s going to be Kevin Lankinen and Nikita Tolopilo holding down the fort for the next little while, but hopefully the 29-year-old will be able to return before the NHL’s holiday break in December.
In ten games this season for the Canucks, Demko has a 5-4-0 record along with a 2.80 goals against average and a .903 save percentage.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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NHL insider delivers major update on Vancouver Canucks star goalie Thatcher Demko’s injury status
Do you think Thatcher Demko will return to the crease for the Vancouver Canucks before Christmas?