Canucks target Thatcher Demko’s return before Christmas, says Henrik Sedin

The Vancouver Canucks are targeting goaltender Thatcher Demko’s return to the lineup before Christmas, hockey operations co-president Henrik Sedin said on Monday. Demko, who has been the Canucks’ number-one goaltender, is rehabilitating after hip surgery he underwent in January; Sedin said the player is making progress every day and that the club wants to bring him back only when he is 100 percent ready.

According to nhl, last season Demko played 20 games with an 8-10-1 record, averaging 2.90 goals against per game, a .897 save percentage and one shutout, before being shut down after the January 10 game to undergo the surgery he later described as a drastic measure. He was a finalist for the 2023-24 Vezina Trophy, but knee injury absences left him out at the end of that season and almost all of the playoffs; in the last two seasons he has played only 43 games. Drafted in the second round (No. 36) of the 2014 draft, Demko has a career 134-99-21 record, with a 2.81 GAA, .909 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 262 games (256 as a starter), all with the Canucks.

Demko stayed in Vancouver over the break to continue his rehabilitation and has not spoken to the media since the end of the season. Team executives and coaches continue to manage the return without setting concrete deadlines; general manager Ryan Johnson has stressed the work is being done step by step to ensure the return happens only once and in the right way. As part of preparations to have coverage in net, the Canucks claimed goaltender Leevi Merilainen from the Ottawa Senators via waivers; he is expected to join team practice, while Kevin Lankinen is expected to start the season opener against the Edmonton Oilers and hold the role in upcoming games.

The nhl source notes that team executives will remain cautious with the recovery timeline and do not want to rush Demko’s return, preferring to bring him back into play only when they are sure of his physical condition.