Kamal Ghorui
In a major setback, Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is set to undergo hip surgery and will miss the remainder of this season, the team announced on Tuesday. According to the team, Demko’s hip surgery is unrelated to the one from last season, and the backstop will be ready for the start of training camp in the fall.However, the San Diego native will still play less than 25 games for the second straight year, which is a concern for fans and fantasy managers alike. With Demko on the shelf, Kevin Lankinen figures to serve as the primary option for the Canucks moving forward. According to reports, Demko consulted several specialists to determine the exact nature of the injury and develop a rehabilitation plan. It could be one ailment or a combination of complications.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko to remain away from the club due to a possible surgery
The Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will remain away from the club, as he is set to undergo hip surgery, and the team confirmed on Tuesday that he will miss the remainder of this season. Earlier, Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said on Jan. 19, “He’s getting further evaluated and getting some testing done. They’re going through, taking opinions from other resources around the world to see where his status is and what needs to be done or not.”He further confirmed, “After consulting with our team doctors and outside specialists, Thatcher Demko will be shut down for the rest of the year. Thatcher will undergo surgery next week for an injury unrelated to the one that kept him out of action last season. Following his rehab, he will be ready for the start of training camp in September,” Demko further added.According to TSN, Demko previously sustained a lower-body injury during the Canucks’ 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 10 and was pulled after the first period. He allowed three goals on six shots in the opening frame.He previously missed 12 games with a separate injury issue from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11, and has played in just 20 of the team’s 44 games this year. This marks the second consecutive year in which Demko has dealt with recurring injury problems after only appearing in 23 games in the 2024-25 campaign. In his last fully healthy season in 2023-24, Demko was an All-Star and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting after finishing the year with a .918 save percentage and 2.45 GAA in 51 games. Besides, the netminder has an 8-10-1 record this season with a .897 save percentage and 2.90 goals-against average.
