According to TSN insider Darren Dreger”Amid the reporting/speculation regarding Thatcher Demko’s season in question, the results of his recent medical tests could be available today. The Canucks are expected to follow his lead this week.”
It is not clear what exactly that means. Is this a decision about his short-term or long-term future? Are the Canucks thinking about how they will approach the rest of this season? Or is this about whether Demko is the right fit at all?
Many have questioned the team’s decision to re-sign Demko. Injuries were a known problem, and instead of letting him play the season without an extension to see if he could stay healthy, they signed him to a new contract. The Canucks essentially took on all the risk and now realize he could be lost for another season, his third in a row.
Is it time to close Demko?
If the Canucks really want to protect Thatcher Demko as a long-term asset, the decision is simple: lock him down and get him back to 100 percent.
His pattern was impossible to ignore. He comes back, looking sharp, almost at full strength – and then the problem surfaces again. Whether it is the same injury or a related injury does not matter. The bottom line is that something is clearly wrong, and it won’t help the player or the team if you keep pushing him through it.
As Jamie McLennan notesEven if Demko thinks he’s ready, that can’t be the deciding factor. Athletes want to play – especially the elite ones – but protecting a franchise goaltender sometimes forces them to go their own way. The Canucks need to determine exactly why this continues to happen and ensure it is fully resolved before he sees another game this season.
With Vancouver struggling and its playoff picture slipping, short-term wins shouldn’t outweigh Demko’s long-term health. By closing him now, the medical staff can remove the uncertainty, take away the mental stress of repeated setbacks and give Demko a real reset heading into next year.
There’s little doubt about the kind of goaltender Demko is when healthy. If he’s comfortable and confident in his body, he’s a top netminder in this league. But watching him leave matches and struggle through recurring issues is not only physically taxing, it’s also mentally exhausting.
At this point, the move in charge doesn’t hope it lasts. It gets it resolved – once and for all.
Next: Evander Kane’s social media activity sparks trade speculation
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