Snap Shots: Thatcher Demko isn’t Jacob Markstrom, and that’s OK

Thanks to the emergence of Jacob Markstrom over the past couple of years, Canucks fans have once again grown used to the privilege of having a starting goaltender that can occasionally steal a game. Ryan Miller was able to do this on occasion, too, but for the most part, the Canucks haven’t had a goalie that could put the team on his back and win games single-handedly since Roberto Luongo’s departure in 2014.

This year, Jacob Markstrom has evolved into that goaltender, and before going down with a knee injury, he was even considered a potential Vezina or even Hart Trophy finalist.

He’s certainly been the Canucks’ team MVP, although a strong case can certainly be made for the likes of J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, and Elias Pettersson.

Without Markstrom, however, many of the Canucks’ defensive mistakes have been put under a microscope. If a player makes a mistake but Markstrom bails him out with a highlight-reel save, fans quickly forget that the otherworldly save only had to happen because of a defensive miscue — they’re too busy focusing on Markstrom, and rightfully so.

The problem arises when a young goaltender in Thatcher Demko is thrust into the starter’s role and expected to play at the level fans have grown accustomed to over the course of the season.

Those are simply unreasonable expectations. There are maybe two other goaltenders in the league who can play on the level Markstrom has this season, and both of them will almost certainly be Vezina Trophy finalists.

Markstrom stole a league leading eight games for the Canucks this season. He’s gone above and beyond what’s expected of him and put the team on his back, and it would be unreasonable to expect the same performance from a 24-year-old goaltender with 36 NHL games under his belt

It’s difficult to analyze a goaltender who has the “clutch gene”; the ability to make saves in high pressure situations, but let’s take a quick look at how Demko has fared thus far.

Demko has faced more chances coming off the rush per 60 minutes than Markstrom has, (2.2 vs 1.68) and has faced fewer high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes of play.

The thing that seems to separate Markstrom from Demko is his ability to stop these high danger scoring chances. Markstrom’s high danger save percentage sits at .836 while Demko’s is .783.

The ability to make a big save after the team in front of him gives up a prime scoring opportunity is something fans have witnessed all year, and it’s something Demko will likely get better at with time.

He’s certainly let in the occasional bad goal, but for the most part, he’s played well enough to give the team a chance to win on most nights. He hasn’t been the reason the Canucks have lost any games since Markstrom went down, but he also hasn’t stolen a game yet either, and that’s perfectly fine. He’s only 24, and he’s fared relatively well thus far. The Canucks need to be better for Demko, not the other way around.