Thatcher Demko's Injury and Performance Update
Goaltender Jiri Patera has been called up under emergency conditions as the Canucks face back-to-back games this weekend. Thatcher Demko being listed as day-to-day has become a recurring situation for the team.
Injury Background
Demko suffered a torn popliteus muscle during Game 1 of Vancouver’s first-round playoff series in the 2023-2024 season. This rare injury is challenging to recover from and may affect him long-term. Last season, Demko played only 23 games and posted his worst statistics of an otherwise strong career.
Current Season Performance
Despite the injury, Demko has been instrumental in keeping the Canucks competitive amid numerous team injuries, winning five of his nine starts so far. He has started 9 of 15 games this year, projecting to about 49 starts this season.
- Save percentage: .912, closely matching his career mark of .910
- Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx): 7.6, ranking fifth in the NHL
Injury Management Strategy
Managing the torn popliteus muscle involves careful and ongoing maintenance. Demko is likely to take planned rest days from games and practices to prevent re-injury and preserve his effectiveness.
"A torn popliteus muscle is extremely rare, difficult to recover from, and could be something he deals with for the rest of his career."
"He has been a big reason why the Canucks have not fallen into the basement of the standings with all of the injuries they have had."
Author's summary: Thatcher Demko continues to be vital for the Canucks, balancing recovery from a rare knee injury with maintaining solid performance and careful management to avoid further setbacks.