Photo credit: Brad Penner – Imagn Images
An NHL insider has revealed what the potential plan for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko during the latter stages of the 2025-26 season.
The 2025-26 season hasn’t been what the Vancouver Canucks were hoping for as in the first 36 games, they’ve seen their roster decimated with injuries, Patrik Allvin needing to bring in external help both via trade and free agents, and then earlier this month, with the club sitting near the bottom of the NHL’s overall standings, shipped Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild.
Despite the difficult campaign, Vancouver’s core is committed to helping turn things around, including goaltender Thatcher Demko, who would like to remain a Canuck despite reports indicating that the club will be entering a rebuilding phase.
“I have no indication right now that Garland and Demko want out. Demko made it clear after the Hughes trade that he doesn’t want to go anywhere. But teams are going to be watching Demko, I’m told, to see how long he can stay healthy the rest of the year.” Insider Rick Dhaliwal said recently.
NHL insider shares Vancouver Canucks’ potential plan for Thatcher Demko later in 2025-26 season
As things stand right now, the Vancouver Canucks have the third-best odds at getting the first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and a chance to land Whitehorse, Yukon native Gavin McKenna, who is off to a solid start at the World Juniors with Canada.
Given that reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs is fairly unlikely for this group, getting a top-three or top-five pick in June’s draft has to be the goal for Patrik Allvin and it looks like in order to do that, they may have to make some interesting decisions later in the season.
“Depending on results at the pointy end of the season, if a top-five pick is in reach, you might see the club begin to be selective about Thatcher Demko starts.” Drance said.
If that happens to be the case in the final ten games or so, depending on if they have the cap space, we could see the Vancouver Canucks roll with three netminders for the month of April, with Nikita Tolopilo joining Kevin Lankinen as the primary tandem, while Thatcher Demko could suit up as a backup here and there.
We’ll have to wait and see what the months ahead have in store for the Vancouver Canucks, but given Thatcher Demko’s ability to steal games for the club, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sit him out later in the season to get that top-five pick.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
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Insider shares potential plan for Vancouver Canucks’ Thatcher Demko in latter stages of 2025-26 season
Do you think the Vancouver Canucks should limit Thatcher Demko’s starts in late-March & throughout April if they’re in the mix for a top-five draft pick?