The Vancouver Canucks had some re-enforcements back at practice today as goaltender Thatcher Demko rejoined the club.
Thatcher Demko on the ice with #Canucks teammates at UBC this morning. One of three goalies taking part pic.twitter.com/fjeDuvvfp0
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 14, 2025
Demko sustained a lower-body injury in the Canucks’ final game before the 4 Nations Faceoff on February 8 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. It has been one day shy of five weeks (34 days) since Canucks fans last saw Demko take the ice at a Canucks practice.
He only participated in 35 minutes of today’s practice, but given Demko’s lengthy injury, that was a planned shortened practice.
per team plan, Thatcher Demko’s first #Canucks practice in 5 weeks comes to a prescribed early ending. Skated with group for about 35 minutes. Was actively involved. Expected to ramp things up in days ahead
— Jeff Paterson (@patersonjeff) March 14, 2025
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet briefly spoke on his goaltender’s return to practice:
“I think he did three drills, and I think the next practice, he might be full-go next practice. I’m not 100% sure on that, but he felt pretty good today.”
Demko has been battling injuries this season. After suffering a popliteus injury in the opening game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Nashville Predators, Demko would not make his 2024-2025 season debut on December 10 against the St. Louis Blues. He stopped 21 of 25 shots against in a losing overtime effort.
The 2014 second-round pick played seven games before he was then injured again in a game against the Seattle Kraken. Demko just missed two games before returning as a backup for Kevin Lankinen against the Washington Capitals and returned the following game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
It was a struggle returning to form for Demko, as he held a 1-4 record with a 3.65 goals against average and a .848 save percentage over that span. After sitting out for two straight games, Demko looked to return to form in the following four games. He posted a 3-1 record with a 1.28 goals against average and a .932 save percentage and one shutout in the four games before his injury.
In the midst of a playoff race, the Canucks are fighting for every point possible. This resulted in the team’s relying on Lankinen in back-to-back games against the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames.
There is still no timeline on Demko’s return to game action.
Watch some raw footage of Demko at today’s Canucks practice:
