{"id":506655,"date":"2026-03-16T20:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T20:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/506655\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T20:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T20:08:31","slug":"thatcher-demko-creates-major-dilemma-for-canucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/506655\/","title":{"rendered":"Thatcher Demko creates major dilemma for Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Vancouver <\/p>\n

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Everything about Vancouver’s season points in one direction: reset the timeline.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That future starts with the draft.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And that possibility changes everything.<\/p>\n

Rebuild timelines rarely match the age curve of veteran goaltenders, and Demko is entering a different phase of his career.<\/p>\n

A contract that complicates the rebuild<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

For a team starting over, that’s a heavy piece on the cap sheet.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But durability has become the concern.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And it wasn’t an isolated case.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That’s where Patrik Allvin’s challenge begins.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Trading him isn’t simple either.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It’s the kind of calculated gamble rebuilding teams often make.<\/p>\n

The logic is straightforward: maximize value now while Demko still carries the reputation of a top-tier starter.<\/p>\n

If Vancouver lands a franchise prospect like Gavin McKenna in June, the rebuild timeline becomes even clearer.<\/p>\n

At that point, moving Demko may no longer be a debate.<\/p>\n

It becomes the next step.<\/p>\n

Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

14 MINUTES AGO|6 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

Thatcher Demko creates major dilemma for Canucks<\/p>\n

Should the Vancouver Canucks trade Thatcher Demko this summer ?<\/p>\n

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