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3 Canucks Stars of the Week: Thatcher Demko stands tall, Garland keeps fighting
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Photo credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Arielle Lalande
Dec 28, 2025, 20:00 ESTUpdated: Dec 28, 2025, 16:23 EST
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Welcome back to Stars of the Week at CanucksArmy! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the Vancouver Canucks that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!
This week, the Canucks faced off against former coach Rick Tocchet’s Philadelphia Flyers to a 5-2 loss and hosted divisional rivals the San Jose Sharks at home, ending in a 6-3 loss. Admittedly, this is not the largest sample size of games. You might be wondering how the 2 games + 2 losses = 3 stars equation works. It simply does not. Open your heart to team tank. Everyone can be a star when you’re in 32nd place in the league! 
While the rest of us are set to regroup ahead of 2026, the Canucks will likely remain the same team in the New Year. The trade deadline and Olympic break will define just how they end their season, but it is safe to say there won’t be any wild underdog story ahead. Hopefully, the Canucks have been taking some notes from the Sharks on how to execute a rebuild – my apologies, hybrid rebuild. 

Thatcher Demko

It cannot be emphasized just how much these two losses are not on the shoulders of Demko. He nearly singlehandedly ensured neither of these games was a full-on blowout loss.
Philadelphia was not a good showing for any Canuck, but Demko was not given much help, either. The Flyers were relentless with their shots on his net, like the raven rapping on Edgar Allan Poe’s chamber door. When all was said and done, Demko’s SV % was .875 with a 4.55 GAA. When you interrogate those numbers a little more, though, the majority of shots Demko faced in the entire game were high danger chances (13), and every single goal he allowed was high danger (4). The Flyers were storming Demko’s crease like the Battle of Helm’s Deep, and the skaters in front of him let them. 
After Vancouver was trampled by the Sharks, Demko had an interesting comment suggesting that the Sharks’ first goal should have been challenged for goaltender interference, claiming Ryan Reaves made contact with him. Adam Foote was also asked about this decision, but referenced the precedent that incidental contact when a skater and goaltender are going for the same puck is not, in fact, interference (this is outlined in the 25-26 NHL Rulebook under rule 69.7). 
Given that failed coach’s challenges now result in a man advantage for your opponent, I understand the call here. But, truthfully speaking, what do the Canucks really have to lose at this point? Goaltender interference reviews are inconsistent at best, to the point where it’s become an ongoing joke. 
Demko’s comment might be viewed as not a great sign for the state of the team’s faith in their own coaching staff, but he echoed what most people watching were probably thinking. A man of the people. 

Conor Garland

The Canucks returned to Rogers Arena for their first home game since Quinn Hughes, professionally speaking, got the hell out of dodge. It was basically Conor Garland versus the San Jose Sharks. 
Garland factored in on two out of three goals, drew penalties, was a menace against civilized society, and was overall the best player the Canucks had on the ice. He also took a moment to chirp former teammate Adam Gaudette, despite the Canucks being down 4-2 at this point. I thought Garland loved sharks? 
It’s hard to tell whether that attitude is hope or hubris, but I’ll take anything right now.

Drew O’Connor

Drew O’Connor netted the final goal against Philadelphia, a melancholy finale for a melancholy game. Then a few days later, he pickpocketed the Sharks on the penalty kill like Oliver Twist for a shorthanded goal – unassisted, at that. 

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