October 26th, 2023
Alex Rickman
The Canucks entered the 2023-24 season with a lot of question marks, but through their first 6 games, do appear to be an improved team from the Canucks of the recent past. With a 4-2-0 record, a revamped and simplified style of play, and key players clicking in a way we may not have seen them all clicking in recent memory, things in Vancouver may finally be starting to turn a corner. One of the keys to the Canucks early success has been the strong play in net from both Thatcher Demko and new backup goalie Casey Desmith, both of whom have made some incredible saves and kept the Canucks close in every game, including the few in which they probably shouldn’t have been. Today, we will look into the performances of these two netminders and see what their play could mean for the Canucks this year, as well as what implications their seasons may have on the future of Canucks hockey.
Canucks fans know what we have in Thatcher Demko, but after a poor, injury-riddled 2022-23 campaign, many both in and outside of the Canucks fanbases were questioning whether or not we would see the same Demko again. Would the injuries, or the frustration that those injuries caused, have an effect on his ability to perform like the franchise goalie he is again? One thing was for sure; to regain the confidence of those doubting him, Demko was going to need to come out of the gate hot, and come out hot he most certainly has. Through his 4 appearances this season, Demko is excelling in just about all imaginable statistical categories, posting a Save Percentage (SV%) of .923 and 2.5 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx).
Additionally, the mind-boggling saves made by Bubble Demko and the Demko we saw in the 2021-22 season seem to be back and better than ever. Demko has made no shortage of incredible stops, including a save late in the Canucks 2-0 loss in Philadelphia against Scott Laughton that could well be considered for save of the year. Big saves aren’t at all what makes a goaltender great, but it’s good to see the return of these moments that were a hallmark of Demko’s game during the periods of his best hockey.
Demko has shown that he can play at this high level over long stretches, but keeping him healthy and well-rested will be important. Failure to give Demko a proper backup had been an issue ever since he assumed the starting role from Jacob Markstrom in 2021, so finding him proper cover became a key goal of the front office. Just before the start of the preseason, that cover was found, as the Canucks sent Tanner Pearson and a 3rd round pick to Montreal in exchange for Casey Desmith.
Following a down year with the Penguins in 2022-23, Desmith was sent to the Habs as part of the 3-team Erik Karlsson trade, but ultimately never played a game there before being sent out west. It was unclear how Desmith would handle the new environment, or if he would be able to recapture the form he had previously had in Pittsburgh that made him one of the best backup netminders in the league, but it was going to be essential that Desmith can comfortably start a fair portion of the Canucks games in order to keep Thatcher Demko from bearing too much of a workload. Through 2 starts and 1 relief appearance, it would appear that Desmith is the backup that the Canucks need, and may spark some interesting debate as to who should backup Demko after this season.
Desmith’s first Canucks appearance was short and sweet, coming in partway through the third period in Vancouver’s 8-1 triumph over the Oilers in relief of an ill Thatcher Demko. Desmith did well in this brief appearance, but it’s hard to get a proper assessment of any player in as short of a time as Desmith spent in the net that game. Desmith’s first Canucks start came in the Canucks second game of the season, this time an away game against the Oilers, and Desmith put up another admirable performance, guiding the Canucks to a 4-3 win. After consecutive losses in Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, Desmith was once again called upon for the Canucks game against the Panthers, and, once again, Desmith did everything asked of him, once again making some great stops and helping guide the team to yet another win. Desmith’s .927 SV% and 2.2 GSAx are excellent stat lines, especially for a backup and while it may be unsustainable for him to keep up this exact pace, Desmith certainly appears to be the best backup the Canucks have had since Demko became the starter.
The biggest thing that Desmith may be providing the Canucks is the ability to comfortably rest Thatcher Demko without feeling like the rest of the team need to put in a superhuman performance in front of the goalie to have a chance to win. Recent backup options like Braden Holtby, Jaroslav Halak, and Spencer Martin have been capable of putting in good performances, but all 3 lacked consistency, which ultimately saw them all exit the Canucks organization. If Desmith can finally bring some consistency to the backup position and provide Thatcher Demko with the cover he needs, a full season of a healthy, well-rested Demko should have the Pacific Division concerned.
Desmith’s good play does raise an interesting question about what the Canucks goaltending situation may look like next year. Desmith is set to hit free agency next summer, so there is no guarantee he will be back in Vancouver next year. Additionally, the organization highly values the potential of 22-year-old Abbotsford Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs and may want to see him make the jump to the NHL soon. The current Canucks regime also seems to make it a goal to maximize the value of players on expiring contracts and has shown a willingness to move on from players set to hit free agency around the trade deadline in an effort to bring in other assets rather than lose the player for free. Should Desmith keep up the good performances, what may the Canucks opt to do with him?
Trading Desmith would likely be dependent on a few factors, primarily the performance of the team around this time and the play and health of Thatcher Demko. If Demko’s struggles to stay healthy were to return, it would be extremely unlikely to see Desmith moved out. Desmith has had some experience stepping into a starting role with the Penguins, and his experience handling the starters' workload would be essential to any hopes the Canucks have to push without Demko. If the Canucks are in the playoff hunt, it would also be difficult to see Desmith moved, as the Canucks would want to give Demko some rest in important games without sacrificing their chances to win. However, if the Canucks come back down to earth after this current hot streak and find themselves outside the playoff picture come the deadline, I would not be surprised to see Desmith moved to a team in the hunt looking for help between the pipes.
The performance of Silovs in Abbotsford will also have a say on what happens next with Desmith. Silovs showed last year during his brief stint with the NHL team and in his time representing Latvia at the World Championships that he has the potential to handle the pressure of taking on a bigger role, but the Canucks still appear to want to see what he can do at the AHL level before giving him a full-time NHL roster spot. Should Silovs live up to the expectations the Canucks have set out for him this season, no matter how Desmith plays then there is a good chance the Canucks opt to give Silovs the backup job next season. However, if for whatever reason Silovs were to struggle in Abbotsford this season, there is a chance that the Canucks get cold feet and opt to have him spend 1 more year cooking in the AHL before bringing him up to the show.
Overall, the Canucks current situation in goal seems to be in good hands, and Desmith’s contract situation may prove itself to be a good problem to have. The flexibility between options that involve trading him, re-signing him, or letting him walk to give Silovs the spot on the NHL roster next season gives the organization plenty of options to see what to do based on a variety of factors surrounding Desmith. No matter what happens next year though, it seems the Canucks net is in safe hands, and that is a breath of fresh air after years of uncertainty behind Demko.