Canucks (Finally) Sign Thatcher Demko To Entry-Level Deal

It took a little bit longer than some may have liked, but Jim Benning has gotten the job done. The Vancouver Canucks earlier today announced the signing of goaltender Thatcher Demko to a three-year entry-level deal.

Financial terms weren’t immediately available, but you have to think that Demko will be getting the rookie maximum (if not very close to it). Demko’s college season ended back on April 7 and he had the option of signing with the Canucks or going back to Boston College for his senior year (which he will now forego).

The 20-year-old product of San Diego, California joined the Canucks organization as a second round selection in the 2014 NHL Draft – part of a second round that saw a ton of goalies go in rapid succession. Demko headed to Boston College and absolutely blew away expectations, going 62-26-10 with a 2.08 goals against average and .928 save percentage in 98 games over three seasons with the Eagles. (And yes, that’s even after battling a hip injury for part of his sophomore season.)

For comparison’s sake, Calgary pick Jon Gillies went 60-34-13 with a 2.08 goals against average and .931 save percentage over three seasons with the Providence College Friars. Gillies capped his college career with an NCAA championship victory. Demko fell just shy of that, losing a tight 3-2 game to Quinnipiac in the national semi-finals, but he won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top college goaltender and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s top college player.

Let’s not mince words here: Demko was a phenomenal college goaltender and expectations should be very high for him when he hits the ice next season.