The Vancouver Canucks suffered a significant blow when their starting goalie, Thatcher Demko, sustained a knee injury during the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a game against the Nashville Predators. Demko left the game and did not return for the remainder of the playoffs, leaving fans and the team anxious about his recovery.

Since the injury, there has been little information on Demko’s condition. He underwent knee surgery earlier this summer, and initial expectations were that he would be ready for the start of the NHL regular season. However, recent reports have cast doubt on this timeline.

Vancouver Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal recently reported that Demko is unlikely to participate in the beginning of training camp, although the team remains optimistic that he could be ready for the start of the regular season.

Following these reports, Dr. Harjas Grewel shared his perspective on the situation. Based on media coverage, Dr. Grewel believes Demko may have suffered a torn ACL. If this is true, the recovery period could extend beyond five months after surgery, complicating his return.

With the NHL season approaching, the Vancouver Canucks are eager to have Demko back in the lineup. Last season, Demko had a career-best performance with a 2.45 goals-against average and a 0.918 save percentage. If he’s unable to play at the start of the season, the team will likely rely heavily on Arturs Silovs. Silovs, who appeared in just four regular-season games in 2023-24, stepped up during the playoffs but will face a challenging role if Demko’s absence is prolonged.

Should Demko be sidelined for an extended period, the Canucks’ playoff aspirations could be in jeopardy. Fans and the team are hopeful that the injury isn’t as severe and that Demko will return early in the season.