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The current campaign, marked by further injuries, has concluded for Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko.
The National Hockey League club confirmed on Tuesday that their prominent goalie is scheduled for hip surgery in the coming week, effectively ending his season.
Patrik Allvin, the general manager, released a statement saying, “Following discussions with our medical staff and external experts, Thatcher Demko will be sidelined for the remainder of the current year.”
He added, “Thatcher is scheduled for an operation next week due to an ailment distinct from the one that sidelined him in the previous season. After his recovery, he is anticipated to be prepared for the commencement of training camp in September.”
The 30-year-old netminder has been absent from play since January 10th, when he departed during Vancouver’s 5-0 defeat by the Maple Leafs in Toronto; however, Canucks’ head coach Adam Foote indicated he had been managing the condition for an extended period prior.
This season, Demko recorded a statistical line of 8 wins, 10 losses, and 1 overtime loss, coupled with a .897 save rate, an average of 2.90 goals conceded per game, and one blank sheet.
A lower-body ailment caused him to miss a dozen matches from mid-November to mid-December; he then rejoined the team for ten additional games before succumbing to injury during the Toronto fixture.
In the 2023-24 season, Demko was recognized as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, presented yearly to the NHL’s premier goaltender, following his impressive performance of 35 wins, 14 losses, 2 overtime losses, a .918 save percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average, and five clean sheets.
On July 1st of the previous year, he committed to a new three-year agreement valued at $25.5 million USD.
The definitive surgical procedure for the goaltender marks the newest ailment to plague what has been a challenging season for the Canucks.
As of their Tuesday matchup with the San Jose Sharks, Vancouver occupies the bottom position in the NHL standings, holding a 17-30-5 record and with five team members listed on injured reserve.
This roster of sidelined players additionally features center Marco Rossi (suffering from a lower body issue), winger Brock Boeser (recovering from a concussion), and defensemen Zeev Buium (with a facial fracture) and Derek Forbot (due to an unstated condition).
Canadiens implements AHL goalie coach change
Amidst a struggling season for their goaltending unit, the Montreal Canadiens have implemented a staffing alteration.
Jeff Gorton, the president of hockey operations, declared on Wednesday that the National Hockey League franchise has dismissed their goaltending coach, Eric Raymond.
Raymond had occupied this role since the 2021-22 playing period. Marco Marciano, formerly the goaltending coach for the Laval Rocket in the American Hockey League, is slated to assume Raymond’s responsibilities temporarily for the remainder of the season.
Gorton communicated to journalists, “This is an regrettable aspect of the profession. Eric has contributed significantly to our team. We’ve experienced some goaltending achievements with Eric’s guidance, so this doesn’t solely pertain to one individual. This represents a collective organizational choice to introduce a different perspective and proceed accordingly.”
He continued, “Marco possesses prior experience and positive results with our netminders, leading us to believe this was the appropriate action at this juncture.”
The current starting goaltender, Sam Montembeault, who was selected for Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off squad in the prior year, currently holds a .868 save percentage and a 3.46 goals-against average, a decline from his previous season’s .902 save percentage and 2.80 GAA. During a conditioning stint with the Rocket in December, he collaborated with Marciano.
Gorton remarked, “Marco is a bright individual. He demonstrates diligence. He maintains excellent relationships with his goaltenders. Everyone we are familiar with praises him highly. There has been interest in Marco from other teams across the league, so we have, in a sense, retained him.”
First-year goaltender Jakub Dobes’ performance has dipped to a .890 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average, subsequent to being recognized as the NHL’s third star for the month of October.
The challenges in net prompted the Canadiens in December to bring up 21-year-old Jacob Fowler from Laval sooner than initially planned for his progression.
Fowler achieved a .902 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average over ten NHL starts; however, the Canadiens returned him to the Rocket on January 16th, concluding a three-goaltender rotation.Montreal, with a record of 29-17-7, occupies the initial wild-card position in the Eastern Conference, notwithstanding their 25th ranking in team save percentage this season, at .879.
Rust faces disciplinary action for unlawful head contact
Pittsburgh Penguins’ attacker Bryan Rust received a three-game suspension due to an unlawful hit to the head of Vancouver’s Brock Boeser.
The National Hockey League’s player safety division disclosed the disciplinary action on Tuesday after conducting a hearing with Rust, meaning he will miss Thursday’s game against Chicago, Saturday’s encounter with the New York Rangers, and Monday’s match versus Ottawa. He is slated to rejoin the lineup next Tuesday for the game against the Islanders in Long Island, New York.
Rust made contact with Boeser’s head using his right shoulder during the closing moments of Sunday’s Penguins-Canucks contest, a game the Penguins secured with a 3-2 victory. Boeser is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of one week, having been placed on injured reserve.
Rust will relinquish $80,078 in U.S. salary, with these funds being allocated to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
