Latest news with #ThatcherDemko
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blue Jackets Rumors: Waddell Looking At "Impact Moves"
The 2025 NHL Draft is just hours away, and Don Waddell holds two first-round picks. He prefers not to use them and to instead trade them to improve his team, so what will he do? Another day, another rumor, and they won't stop until this is over. Advertisement Marco D'Amico reports that the CBJ are not only interested in Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, but have "been in on him for a while now," and that "it goes back to the trade deadline. He's one of a few guys I know Don is following up on.' D'Amico also says that Waddell is pushing hard for Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, but Elliotte Friedman says the Jackets won't be players for Dobson. Waddell told the media yesterday that he's had trade talks with a few teams and could move up 8th or higher range. He said yesterday, 'We'll make our hockey club better for today, but we've also got to guard the future. So, if we end up keeping both (first-round) picks and picking them, then we'll get players for the future. I'm still pretty confident there's something that's going to break here before the draft, and if it happens, great. If it doesn't, we'll move forward." One of D'Amico's sources also told him, 'It's no secret that Don wants to improve his goaltending. I know they've talked to the Canucks about [Thatcher] Demko before, but it seems like the Canucks may sign him to an extension. So what about [Arturs] Šilovs?" Advertisement The Canucks have a goalie problem of their own in that they have too many, so why not use one as trade bait? I suspect Šilovs is off the table, so would Waddel pursue Thatcher Demko? The American goaltender has had some injury concerns, but could still be a really good goalie. Kevin Lankinen probably isn't going anywhere either. With all this goalie talk, Waddell still has one problem - What to do with Elvis Merzļikins? That's the $5.4 million question. If you follow the Columbus Blue Jackets, get ready for the next two days as the moves could make your head spin. Let us know what you think below. Advertisement Stay updated with the most interesting Blue Jackets stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News and never miss a story. Blue Jackets Acquire Brendan Gaunce From Wild Blue Jackets Acquire Brendan Gaunce From Wild The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that they have acquired Brendan Gaunce from the Minnesota Wild today in exchange for forward Cameron Butler. Daniil Tarasov Traded To Florida Panthers Daniil Tarasov Traded To Florida Panthers Pierre LeBrun has reported that goalie Daniil Tarasov has been traded to the Florida Panthers today. REPORT: NHL, NHLPA Set To Announce New CBA On Friday REPORT: NHL, NHLPA Set To Announce New CBA On Friday If you're an old NHL fan like me, when CBA's are brought up, it immediately gives me anxiety. In 2004, an NHL lockout resulted in the cancellation of the entire season, which revolved around a salary cap. That lockout is the reason the Blue Jackets are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 25-26, instead of last season. Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 NHL Mock Draft Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 NHL Mock Draft Welcome to the Columbus Blue Jackets 2025 Mock Draft.
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Arturs Silovs' AHL MVP play makes him a Canucks trade chip
Vancouver Canucks GM Patrik Allvin made it quite clear this week: he'd like to sign Thatcher Demko to a contract extension. Article content 'It's been a really good conversation with Thatcher and his agent, and we'll see here over the next couple of days or weeks, if we can get something in place,' Allvin said when asked about his plan for the goalie, who is eligible to sign an extension beginning next week. Article content Article content Article content And with Kevin Lankinen already under contract, re-upping with Demko would set in stone the Canucks' plan in net for the foreseeable future, even if there are lingering doubts about Demko's long-term health. The Canucks' No. 1 goalie has dealt with substantial injuries in each of the past three seasons and was indeed limited to just 23 games this past campaign. Article content If Demko extends, that's surely writing on the wall for Arturs Silovs, even if the jovial Latvian is coming off yet another spring where he's been a big part of the story. Article content In the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was thrust into the spotlight after Demko damaged the popliteus muscle in his left knee in the first game versus Nashville, and then Casey DeSmith was hurt two games later. Silovs became something of a cult figure, helping his team push the Edmonton Oilers to the seventh game of the second round. Article content Article content This past season was a struggle in the NHL for Silovs, but after returning to Abbotsford late in the season, he finally found his groove again in the playoffs. He put on a glittering show, stopping 93.1 per cent of the shots he faced and posting five shutouts while backstopping Abbotsford to the Calder Cup championship. Article content Article content He was named the playoff MVP for his work. Article content Article content No doubt that kind of play does draw the attention of other teams. Article content 'It was a hell of a performance,' Allvin replied when asked whether Silovs had changed the story of his future in Vancouver. 'I'm happy for Artie. We know that he is a really good goalie, and this is justifying that.' Article content 'That being said, we still got a couple of good goalies in the system here, with (Nikita) Tolopilo and Ty Young, that are more than ready to play as well. So we'll see over the next couple of days, where things goes here with Thatcher. We can make decisions after that.'
National Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Two glaring omissions in the Canucks' current marketing campaign
Article content Plenty of people have taken note that Elias Pettersson is prominently absent from the Vancouver Canucks' current ticket sales efforts. Article content There is a Facebook advertisement that caught everyone's eye, for a start. Pettersson is not visible in it. Article content Article content And if you click on the Canucks' season ticket membership website, the video that plays at the top does not feature the visage of the team's best-paid player, just a fan sign that features his number. Article content Is this because he's on the trade block? Maybe. Is it because his image carries too much negative connotations for fans right now? Perhaps also. Article content Either way, what a spot to be in, given where Pettersson's star was 18 months ago, when he was one of the NHL's stars of the month. You can't even market the guy who is supposed to be one of your most marketable stars? Article content That's one thing to note. Article content But there's another face missing from the same imagery that should stand out more — goalie Thatcher Demko. Article content Kevin Lankinen is in the website video. But Demko, still the Canucks' No. 1 guy in the crease, is not. Article content It does make you wonder if Demko is quietly being shopped around. One league source said that trading Demko made sense to them since he is a solid trade chip, even if he is coming off multiple seasons in a row with injuries, and could help bring back the kind of No. 2 centre the Canucks openly covet. Article content Another source said management is looking to 'get rid of the emotionally soft, diva, drama-type, cancerous players, without doing a traditional rebuild.' Article content Article content Line that up as you will. Article content Article content Fans know this dressing room was a mess this past season. There has long been frustration with management and coaches over some aspects of the team culture that they inherited when president Jim Rutherford and general manager Patrik Allvin took over in 2022. Article content There was too much entitlement, they felt, amongst a group of players that had very little to show for their work to date. Sure, the 2020 bubble playoff run was an impressive thing, but that was all they had in their cap. That was the only playoff run this group had put together to that point. Article content And that's why Allvin in his first end-of-season news conference made note of what he wanted to see from his players in the future. He wanted to see more. He wanted to see a get-it-done attitude. He wanted to see players who focused on the task and got on with the job. Article content There certainly have been rumours that management has been frustrated with how some players have prepared themselves. How they have worked to get back from injury. How they have operated once they have been cleared to return.
Vancouver Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Canucks: The Thatcher Demko dilemma of injury versus durability, pay versus trade
How much is too much? If you're the Vancouver Canucks ' braintrust, assessing long-term competitiveness and compensation for starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is like the Rubik's Cube. Trying to properly align all sides can be tedious. At his best, Demko is among the NHL's elite stoppers, and a Vezina Trophy finalist nomination in 2024 spoke to superiority when healthy. In 51 games in 2023-24, before being sidelined by a freak popliteus knee-muscle strain, he posted career-best 2.45 goals-against average, .918 saves percentage and five shutouts. And there's the rub. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. From career hip, groin and knee ailments — plus that mysterious popliteus predicament at back of his knee in April of 2024 — a string of setbacks have tested the resolve to endure arduous rehabilitations. Demko did the work and nothing is impeding preparation for a heightened level of readiness next season. However, it's the unknown that makes durability and contract-extension parameters a double dilemma for management. Demko, 29, has a year remaining on his expiring extension at a $5-million US salary-cap hit, and his camp can start talking contract on July 1. But it would be prudent for the Canucks to first see how Demko starts the 2025-26 season. Could that popliteus problem pop up again? Or is it something athletes can play through and manage? 'It's such a rare injury, but it could occur again if he were to have a movement or contact that causes the injury,' B.C. physician Dr. Harjas Grewal told Postmedia on Monday. 'Some of the ways it could happen are direct contact to the outer knee, or even just rotation of his knee while it's flexed. 'Most muscles in the leg work to move the knee forward and backward. The popliteus is unique and important in starting flexion of the knee. To get into a butterfly, or any other position, the initial bending of the knee is initiated by the popliteus. 'These types of plays happen a lot, and this injury is so rare that it would shock me to happen again. In terms of prevention, there's not much he could do outside of regular strengthening exercises and ensuring he has good mobility. 'Managing his workload helps to reduce risk, but that's true for essentially all muscular injuries.' Demko missed 15 games this season with an undisclosed Feb. 8 ailment, but had an encouraging run before that setback. A 3-1-1 run featured an encouraging 1.25 GAA, .952 saves percentage, and a shutout. How the Canucks' crease conundrum plays out is like that Rubik's Cube. Kevin Lankinen, 30, has a five-year extension at $4.5 million in annual average value kicking in next season. And Arturs Silovs , 24, has a year left on his deal at $850,000 before becoming a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. However, Silovs is not waiver-exempt next season, and that's where it gets interesting in the big picture. In theory, Demko and Lankinen form the tandem and Silovs gets more seasoning in Abbotsford. The Canucks could carry three stoppers, but that's awkward for practice, playing time and taking up a roster spot. The kicker is what Demko's camp believes is a fair extension. He wants to remain in Vancouver and has put up numbers than warrant a market-value raise. Salary is negotiable, but length will be an obstacle. Demko would obviously want long-term security and the Canucks could play the caution card. Linus Ullmark, 31, could be a contract comparable. He had an expiring cap hit of $5 million this season and then his four-year, $33-million extension kicks in with the Ottawa Senators. It carries an $8.25 million cap hit. Ullmark has played 297 career regular-season games with a 2.54 GAA., .917 saves percentage and 13 shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2023. Demko has logged 242 games with a 2.80 GAA., .910 percentage and nine shutouts. The Canucks could also consider a trade because Demko doesn't have movement protections, but that's a very slippery slope. Lankinen and Silovs might not measure up as a reliable duo, even if healthy. Lankinen did hit career highs this season for wins (25), GAA (2.62), and shutouts (four) in 51 games. But he had struggles in March by allowing four, five and six goals in sub-standard outings. That's where workload and another veteran to share the cage is vital. Lankinen did set an NHL record by winning his first 10 road starts, so the good far outweighs the concerns. As for Silovs, he has had a season of AHL rejuvenation — especially with five postseason shutouts to get Abbotsford to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history — but how that plays out in the NHL is the big unknown. Silovs was suspect in an NHL season opening 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on home ice, a nervous night where the Canucks blew 3-0 and 4-1 leads. It wasn't any better in a 6-0 drubbing by the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 31 in which Silovs faced just 22 shots. It all led to a 2-6-1 record, bloated 3.65 GAA and paltry .861 saves percentage. He had to learn to calm down an aggressive and acrobatic game, control rebounds and track pucks better from a distance and through screens. To his credit, he did finish this AHL regular season with a 14-5-1 mark, 2.41 GAA, .908 saves percentage and five shutouts. bkuzma@
National Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canucks: The Thatcher Demko dilemma of injury versus durability, pay versus trade
How much is too much? Article content If you're the Vancouver Canucks ' braintrust, assessing long-term competitiveness and compensation for starting goaltender Thatcher Demko is like the Rubik's Cube. Trying to properly align all sides can be tedious. Article content At his best, Demko is among the NHL's elite stoppers, and a Vezina Trophy finalist nomination in 2024 spoke to superiority when healthy. In 51 games in 2023-24, before being sidelined by a freak popliteus knee-muscle strain, he posted career-best 2.45 goals-against average, .918 saves percentage and five shutouts. Article content Article content And there's the rub. Article content From career hip, groin and knee ailments — plus that mysterious popliteus predicament at back of his knee in April of 2024 — a string of setbacks have tested the resolve to endure arduous rehabilitations. Demko did the work and nothing is impeding preparation for a heightened level of readiness next season. Article content However, it's the unknown that makes durability and contract-extension parameters a double dilemma for management. Demko, 29, has a year remaining on his expiring extension at a $5-million US salary-cap hit, and his camp can start talking contract on July 1. Article content Article content 'It's such a rare injury, but it could occur again if he were to have a movement or contact that causes the injury,' B.C. physician Dr. Harjas Grewal told Postmedia on Monday. 'Some of the ways it could happen are direct contact to the outer knee, or even just rotation of his knee while it's flexed. Article content Article content 'Most muscles in the leg work to move the knee forward and backward. The popliteus is unique and important in starting flexion of the knee. To get into a butterfly, or any other position, the initial bending of the knee is initiated by the popliteus. Article content Article content 'These types of plays happen a lot, and this injury is so rare that it would shock me to happen again. In terms of prevention, there's not much he could do outside of regular strengthening exercises and ensuring he has good mobility. Article content 'Managing his workload helps to reduce risk, but that's true for essentially all muscular injuries.' Article content Demko missed 15 games this season with an undisclosed Feb. 8 ailment, but had an encouraging run before that setback. A 3-1-1 run featured an encouraging 1.25 GAA, .952 saves percentage, and a shutout. Article content How the Canucks' crease conundrum plays out is like that Rubik's Cube. Kevin Lankinen, 30, has a five-year extension at $4.5 million in annual average value kicking in next season. And Arturs Silovs, 24, has a year left on his deal at $850,000 before becoming a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
