Canucks Thatcher Demko breaks his silence regarding his nagging injury

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Daniel Lucente
September 19, 2024 (7:45 PM)

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It hasn't been a fun summer for Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, and the latest reports suggest it's not going to get any better in the short term.

The Vancouver Canucks officially started their 2024-25 training camp this morning and the first player on the ice was goaltender Thatcher Demko. This is promising news for the team and the fans as there was some speculation regarding Demko's health this summer.

Demko's injury has been shrouded in mystery for many months. He was out of the lineup in the opening round of the playoffs, where the Canucks ultimately lost in seven games to the Nashville Predators, though there were a pair of reports throughout the series he could be back for a potential Game 7 against the Edmonton Oilers. As the offseason moved along, chatter did emerge he would require surgery, but no updates ever came.

Today, those answers finally came. Demko confirmed he had a "minor procedure" but his summer was "frustrating". He obviously wasn't pleased with the cloudiness surrounding the injury but he let everyone in on a bit of good news: he has seen improvements over the last couple of weeks.

«I've been able to rehab a ton this summer, and sure it's taking a bit longer than I would have liked but over the past few weeks I'm feeling a lot better now and there's some light at the end of the tunnel,» Demko said to reporters.

As crystal clear as it can get, the Canucks need Demko healthy for this season. As much as one could say, the team's success this year greatly relies on him staying fit and in goal. If there's one negative to take away from today, it's that he didn't provide any timeline for his return, which is slightly frustrating to fans.

With the puck-stopping depth within the organization still in question, the Canucks have been looking into other backup options. Sunday night, the Vancouver Canucks officially offered a PTO to former Ottawa Senators goaltender Dylan Ferguson, who will attend training camp with the team.

Ferguson was a seventh-round draft choice of the Dallas Stars in the 2017 NHL Draft. Last season he played in the KHL with Dynamo Minsk, posting an impressive 2.51 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 23 games. The season before that, Ferguson played in two games for the Senators. He also had a 2.52 GAA and a .962 save percentage in the AHL with the Belleville Senators.

Early reports out of Finland said the Canucks first approached former NHL goalie Antti Raanta, who opted out of their offer to stay closer to home in Europe. While Ferguson might not have been the top choice of the Canucks, they hope he can raise his game and provide them with some crease surety until Thatcher Demko returns.