[Report] Canucks' Thatcher Demko Opens Up On “Ambiguous” & “Frustrating” Injury

[RWJC]

Canucks' Thatcher Demko Opens Up On “Ambiguous” & “Frustrating” Injury

 

Dave Litman 

Thursday, September 19, 2024

 

Addressing the media for the first time this fall, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko spoke openly about the “ambiguous” & “frustrating” knee injury that has him still on the sidelines five months after he played his last game this past season. 
 

It sounds like Demko's knee injury is a first of its kind for an NHL player, and it's the uncertainty of it all that has frustrated the Canucks' No. 1 netminder.

 

“When I first injured myself in the playoffs, it was such a rare case, such a unique injury, that we didn’t really have a lot of readily available research or case studies, or really any information to have a concrete timeline. We were told this might be a situation that we might find ourselves in, the one we’re in right now (which is still no timeline for his return). 

 

“When I first felt the injury, obviously I wasn’t too sure what it was, but as we dived into some research and some things, it was a little bit ambiguous. It’s been a bit of a frustrating summer just trying to get some answers. Obviously, we’ve talked to all the specialists we can around the world."

 

Demko has done plenty of rehab over the summer, and has even been on the ice for the last couple of weeks. He says he finally can see the "light at the end of the tunnel," and feels confident he'll get back to 100%. But when, nobody seems to know.

 

The Vezina Trophy runner-up last season posted a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 51 games. He injured the knee in the very first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, in Round One against the Nashville Predators. 

 

The Canucks are still trying to bolster their goalie roster, having made an offer to UFA Kevin Lankinen, but so far he has not accepted it. 

https://www.nhltraderumors.me/2024/09/thatcher-demko-opens-up-on-ambiguous.html

[Vollmilch90]

Just a weird situation. Have to be patient. 

 

I still don't like the idea to sign another goalie. Silovs can handle it. We need the cap space elsewhere 

[JayDangles]

So he didnt really open up... I mean he didnt say what the injury is, or provide any actual information. Thats kind of frustrating to be honest.

[RWJC]

3 minutes ago, JayDangles said:

So he didnt really open up... I mean he didnt say what the injury is, or provide any actual information. Thats kind of frustrating to be honest.

it was just a routine leg amputation 

Edited 4 hours ago by RWJC

[Dr. Crossbar]

I'm taking his confidence that he can get back to 100% as a positive. In his own words, he says he has no doubts. That's good to hear. He just can't give a definitive timeline.

 

Thankfully Silovs has taken huge leaps forward to give management confidence to fill in while Demko gets to 100%. We're fortunate that Silovs gained that playoff experience last year. Makes sense that he's given this opportunity.

 

 

[Ghostsof1915]

Hope he doesn't get some new condition named after him. Thatcher Demko Syndrome would be a lousy way for immortality. 

[JayDangles]

Just now, RWJC said:

it was just a routine leg amputation 

Probably would have healed faster and be ready for training camp if that was the case.

 

Just playing devils advocate, and I get this will probably rile some folks up who might call me insensitive, BUT,

 

If this injury isnt necessarily a bad injury, and wont likely lead to a worse injury, what ever happened to players playing with or through injury?

I play hockey all the time with a strained muscle, or a sore ankle, or a bone bruise on the wrist. I'm not paid millions of dollars or even insured. When did everything get so soft?

 

[Ghostsof1915]

2 minutes ago, JayDangles said:

Probably would have healed faster and be ready for training camp if that was the case.

 

Just playing devils advocate, and I get this will probably rile some folks up who might call me insensitive, BUT,

 

If this injury isnt necessarily a bad injury, and wont likely lead to a worse injury, what ever happened to players playing with or through injury?

I play hockey all the time with a strained muscle, or a sore ankle, or a bone bruise on the wrist. I'm not paid millions of dollars or even insured. When did everything get so soft?

 

I think the Canucks would like to protect their investment until the end of his current contract. This also puts a monkey wrench in their plans. I don't expect they were looking for a player to replace Demko this early yet. 

[RWJC]

3 minutes ago, JayDangles said:

Probably would have healed faster and be ready for training camp if that was the case.

 

Just playing devils advocate, and I get this will probably rile some folks up who might call me insensitive, BUT,

 

If this injury isnt necessarily a bad injury, and wont likely lead to a worse injury, what ever happened to players playing with or through injury?

I play hockey all the time with a strained muscle, or a sore ankle, or a bone bruise on the wrist. I'm not paid millions of dollars or even insured. When did everything get so soft?

 

Because you likely aren’t worth millions in revenue to a corporation, let alone insured by them for that. 
You don’t wear out a prime asset when you don’t have to. 

[RWJC]

So it’s a rare type muscle injury around the knee area…where is Dr. Mark Recchi when you need him?!?

[kettlevalley]

Knees are funny though.  I know personally I started have knee issues at 12.  And was almost 40 when both of them finally healed and worked correctly without pain.  

[Ghostsof1915]

4 minutes ago, RWJC said:

So it’s a rare type muscle injury around the knee area…where is Dr. Mark Recchi when you need him?!?

Too busy golfing?

[Ghostsof1915]

2 minutes ago, kettlevalley said:

Knees are funny though.  I know personally I started have knee issues at 12.  And was almost 40 when both of them finally healed and worked correctly without pain.  

Nice to know from my older siblings that knee issues run in the family. My sister used to be a competitive middle distance runner in her teens. Now she can't run in her 60's anymore. And it breaks her heart. Cycling doesn't really replace it, but it's way easier on the knees. My youngest nephew is in his early 30's and already is having knee problems. 

[Canuck You]

12 minutes ago, RWJC said:

it was just a routine leg amputation 

[Jetliner]

lol this is a baaaad situation. It’s time to move on from demko early. It sucks but at the end of the day it’s business

[Gurn]

I've seen this mentioned before, and kind of remember it myself --does anyone remember/know which media pundit said the Canucks should trade Demko?

Iirc it was about the same time as Thatcher was about to sign that new deal.

[Dr. Crossbar]

 

[The Duke]

3 minutes ago, Dr. Crossbar said:

 

That has to be a good sign at least. Given what Silovs pulled in the playoffs we shouldn’t need to rush him.

[-dlc-]

Here's a longer clip (not sure if it's already here? Didn't see it)

 

[Canuck You]

He probably has a timeline in the back of head and things are probably going in the right direction based him being on the ice, Probably doesn't want to put that energy out there, Remain in the shadows and not jinx it..Look what happened last time, Apparently he was ready to go for rnd 3.

[Dr. Crossbar]

13 minutes ago, The Duke said:

That has to be a good sign at least. Given what Silovs pulled in the playoffs we shouldn’t need to rush him.

 

Exactly. They're doing the right thing with him. Especially given how rare the injury is. The fact that he's confident he can get to 100% is a good sign too, imo. 

[DeNiro]

1 hour ago, JayDangles said:

So he didnt really open up... I mean he didnt say what the injury is, or provide any actual information. Thats kind of frustrating to be honest.

Lol you wouldn’t even know what it was anyways what does it matter? 

 

He gave all the details he could. If you had listened there’s no timeline because it doesn’t get diagnosed in athletes. He’s taking it week by week and is confident he can get back to 100. That’s all I needed to hear.

 

He showed awesome leadership going in front of the media like that too. He didn’t have to do that. I hope people realize how lucky we are to have these class of players playing for us.

[Sophomore Jinx]

1 hour ago, RWJC said:

it was just a routine leg amputation 

[flat land fish]

Sounds like we should be planning around a 50/50 role going forward with Demko

[DeNiro]

2 minutes ago, flat land fish said:

Sounds like we should be planning around a 50/50 role going forward with Demko

Or you know just wait and see how he heals up.

 

It will likely be closer to a 70/30 split like it always should have been. The issue was he was playing more like an 80/20 split. 
 

Even 10 less games could make a big difference.