Did you miss us? The CanucksArmy Roundtable is back after a few weeks off, and we’re better than ever.

To make our triumphant return, we’re talking about the topic that keeps on giving: goaltenders. The Canucks have been running something of a tandem to start the season, with Jacob Markstrom playing the 1A role and Anders Nilsson more than holding his own as the 1B.

At some point, though, one has to think that one of them will take the starting job and run with it. Certainly, we know that one is going to outperform the other, regardless of what their roles end up being by the end of the season.

So with that, I asked the CanucksArmy staff who they think will have the better season this year with the Vancouver Canucks.

I answer with Thatcher Demko. I think he’ll spend the majority of the year with Utica, away from the stress, drama, media hysteria, and constant fear of being ousted or benched that Markstrom and Nilsson are both going to deal with. I can’t confidently say that one or the other of the current NHLers are going to have a successful season, because the team is making them battle it out and I can’t see them enjoying it too much on a rebuilding team. There’s no room to make mistakes, which the entire team will be making all year.

I know this isn’t the answer that you’re looking for, but I agree with Silverman. I think the Nilsson signing is a good gamble by Jim Benning and I do think that Markstrom is a good goalie. With that said, and with my attention focused firmly on the Utica Comets this season, I am a big fan of Thatcher Demko. Demko is a student of the game and continues to improve. His “cooler than the other side of the pillow” demeanour in the net is impressive.

Jacob Markstrom is my pick. Now that the Canucks have a true tandem and not necessarily a number one, Markstrom can benefit from more regular starts and as he gets comfortable he’ll play better than he has. This team isn’t all that good so the success may come down to wins instead of personal numbers. We’ll see.

15% of Roberto Luongo.

I’m gonna say, Anders Nilsson. His numbers were great last year, there’s less pressure on him than there is on Jacob Markstrom, and he’s played better so far. The Boston game was rough but those goals weren’t his fault.

I think it’s Anders Nillson who’s going to rise to the occasion. I like Jacob Markstrom. I think you have to give him a chance to take the job and run with it. But his penchant for ugly goals just doesn’t instil confidence in me that he can be a starting goaltender in the NHL. Meanwhile, Nilsson has been great in limited starts and a lot of the data from his time in Buffalo suggests it might not be an aberration.