Canucks: Let's try to answer some Thatcher Demko injury questions

Article content

Thatcher Demko taking a dozen minutes Thursday to speak with the media about his health and everything else was the best news Vancouver Canucks fans have heard in awhile.

Article content

Sure, he’s not back in action yet fully, but he’s a lot closer than many were worried he would be.

That said, there are still lots of things to think about both directly and adjacent to the Canucks’ No. 1 goalie.

So, with a nod toward former Province columnist Ed Willes’s musings, let us ponder the Canucks’ crease, having thought about what Demko said and poking around a little under the hood:

What is Demko’s timeline?

The man himself said Thursday he wasn’t sure. And it’s a fair thing for him to say, given how odd his summer went.

Bu the last two to three weeks have been very promising for Demko. He’s making rapid progress, to the point where he could be ready to play as soon as two weeks from now, but most likely a month from now.

Article content

Article content

That said, the caution he expressed Thursday was about how things went in July and August, after taking a break to rest. He had a minor procedure done on his knee (and let’s be clear, it was very minor) during that break. That was no problem.

But the functional challenge his “unique” injury presented — no one will say what it is — meant his rehab was very slow going through August.

The anxiety that we started hearing the Canucks were feeling in the summer was around this. But that anxiety has diminished in recent weeks, as Demko has finally gotten back on track in his building toward the season.

If all goes well, he’ll back in action soon. The optimism is now that he could be ready for opening night, though the more conservative approach is likely to win out and Demko will be ready to return by the end of October.

Article content

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

But what if he doesn’t?

Demko is clearly feeling confident about what’s ahead. His ailment doesn’t require surgery, just management. And if all goes well, it just won’t be an issue.

He spent much of the summer consulting with some very top-end experts. The research work done by Demko and his team was top-of-the-line — and there was no suggestion of this being a difficult issue to overcome.

That said, any time a goalie gets told they’re dealing with an issue that’s never been seen in a netminder before, you can understand why his bosses might feel a little anxious and start playing the what-if game.

No longer is it: “What if Demko isn’t ready to start the season?”

Rather, it’s more: ‘What if this chronic problem flares up in December and puts him out for a month?’ What’s the contingency plan then?

Article content

Is the Kevin Lankinen interest actually about Arturs Silovs?

The Canucks remain interested in the services of Kevin Lankinen, the former Nashville Predators goalie who has a solid track record as a backup.

Many probably thought off the top this meant the Canucks were worried about Demko, and, as detailed above, it’s also about Canucks goalie Arturs Silovs in general.

Silovs was a wonderful story in the playoffs. But he’s far from a perfect goalie. Do the Canucks have confidence in him having to carry the load for a month, backed up by essentially an unknown in Jiri Patera?

Or would they rather have Silovs be Lankinen’s backup in such a Demko-absent scenario?

So what’s the hold up?

There are a few elements in the Lankinen equation.

Article content

First, there’s Lankinen’s salary: the Canucks are holding firm to their offer and Lankinen believes he can get more elsewhere. But that also depends on how the market evolves: what happens with John Gibson in Anaheim, for instance? Most expect him to be traded to a new team, so what do the Ducks do when they do move him?

Second is the market: the Canucks obviously will have their eye on how other teams shuffle their goalie situations, because maybe there’s an alternative to Lankinen that appears on the market that they can trade for or grab off waivers.

And that also applies to Lankinen: as the market moves, other opportunities may open up, but those shifts may also close off opportunities.

The story is clearer, but it’s still far from over.

Article content

pjohnston@postmedia.com

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.

Article content