The Canucks’ goalie situation just got a lot more interesting.
The team recently signed Finnish goalie Kevin Lankinen to a big five-year, $4.5 million per year deal, raising questions about Thatcher Demko’s future in Vancouver.
It’s been a rough year for Demko. He’s currently sidelined on injured reserve with a lower-body injury, adding to what’s already been a challenging 12 months for the netminder.
The Canucks aren’t short on options between the pipes. Besides Lankinen, they’ve got promising young goalie Arturs Silovs who looks ready to make the jump to the NHL full-time.
So what’s next for Demko?
Hockey insiders Frank Seravalli and Jason Gregor recently tackled this question on “DFO Rundown.” Both think Demko will stick around – at least for now.
But there’s a catch.
While Gregor expects Demko to start next season in Vancouver, he doesn’t see him finishing the 2025-26 campaign with the team. He’s hinting at a possible trade before the 2026 deadline.
This situation puts Canucks GM Patrik Allvin in a tricky spot. He’s got three capable goalies and only two spots to fill.
Training camp this fall should be pretty interesting to watch. With Lankinen’s new contract and Silovs pushing for playing time, the competition for the crease is about to heat up.
