Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Thatcher Demko now sits at the center of a tough summer decision for Adam Foote as the Vancouver Canucks face the reality of a full rebuild.
Everything about Vancouver’s season points in one direction: reset the timeline.
The Canucks sit last in the NHL standings with a 20-38-8 record, a collapse that forced the organization to shift focus toward the future instead of chasing short-term fixes.
That future starts with the draft.
Because Vancouver is locked into a bottom finish, the club will pick inside the top 3. If the lottery balls fall their way, the prize could be phenom Gavin McKenna.
And that possibility changes everything.
Rebuild timelines rarely match the age curve of veteran goaltenders, and Demko is entering a different phase of his career.
A contract that complicates the rebuild
Demko turns 30 and his new contract kicks in next season, a three-year deal worth $8,500,000 per season signed in July 2025.
For a team starting over, that’s a heavy piece on the cap sheet.
The Canucks already know what Demko can do when healthy. He remains one of the league’s most technically sound goaltenders, capable of stealing games when the crease gets busy.
But durability has become the concern.
Demko appeared in only 20 games this season and posted a .897 save percentage with a 2.90 goals-against average before another injury shut him down.
And it wasn’t an isolated case.
The previous season he was limited to 23 games because of knee trouble. Two straight years with fewer than 25 appearances raise real questions about workload moving forward.
That’s where Patrik Allvin’s challenge begins.
Keeping Demko means paying starter money during the early years of a rebuild while a roster built around prospects takes shape. That timeline rarely lines up with a veteran goalie entering his thirties.
Trading him isn’t simple either.
Teams value Demko’s talent, but the injury history and the $8.5M cap hit will scare off some buyers. If Vancouver wants a strong return, picks, young players, or both, salary retention might be necessary.
It’s the kind of calculated gamble rebuilding teams often make.
The logic is straightforward: maximize value now while Demko still carries the reputation of a top-tier starter.
If Vancouver lands a franchise prospect like Gavin McKenna in June, the rebuild timeline becomes even clearer.
At that point, moving Demko may no longer be a debate.
It becomes the next step.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Thatcher Demko creates major dilemma for Canucks
Should the Vancouver Canucks trade Thatcher Demko this summer ?