Vancouver Canucks give an unfortunate update on Demko's availability
It’s not the news that Vancouver Canucks fans wanted to hear.
According to Sportsnet 650’s Brendan Batchelor, Thatcher Demko won’t dress for the Canucks next game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
After practice on Friday, head coach Adam Foote tried to downplay the severity of Demko’s absence.
“We had a conversation with him to take care of himself, and know, in a condensed schedule, when he feels he needs a little bit of time off, that’s what he’s doing,” Foote said.
Demko was off to a solid start for the Canucks this season, posting a 5-4 record with a .911 save percentage. He currently ranks fifth in the NHL in terms of goals saved above expected, according to MoneyPuck.
Batchelor also reported that Demko was on the ice on Saturday morning, even though he won’t be in the lineup for the team against Columbus.
Kevin Lankinen starts tonight. Jiri Patera will back up. Thatcher Demko skated this morning, but won’t dress. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) November 8, 2025
The Canucks recalled Jiri Patera under emergency conditions on Friday with Demko absent. However, Patera wasn’t available for practice since he had traveled with the Abbotsford Canucks back-to-back matchup against the AHL’s Colorado Eagles. That left the Canucks with Lankinen and Abbotsford mortgage broker Alex Kotai as the goalies at practice.
Demko’s health was a concern coming into the season. He battled three separate injuries in 2024-25, only suiting up for 18 games.
The 29-year-old played a career-high 64 games back in 2021-22. Since then, Demko has endured multiple long-term injuries. A groin issue forced him to miss three months back in 2022-23. During the Canucks’ best season in ages back in 2023-24, Demko was absent for two lengthy stretches in the latter half of the season. That included missing all but one of Vancouver’s playoff games.
Lankinen will get the start against Columbus. He’s 2-4 so far this season with an .880 save percentage. Saturday will be the first time he plays consecutive games for the Canucks this season.