It's Not Looking Too Promising For Thatcher Demko's Future with the Vancouver Canucks
Photo credit: Bob Frid - USA TODAY Sports
An insider has revealed what the Vancouver Canucks could do this summer regarding certain players that will become eligible to sign contract extensions on July 1st.
After a very disappointing 2024-25 campaign that was full of injuries and drama on and off the ice, resulting in the team missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fourth time in the last five seasons, the Vancouver Canucks are hoping to turn their fortunes around this fall.
Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford is expecting the team to be quite aggressive this summer to avoid repeating what happened this past season and General Manager Patrik Allvin is going to have his hands full trying to improve their roster through both the free agent and trade markets.
Insider shares what Vancouver Canucks could do with players eligible for contract extensions
Beyond their own free agents this summer, including forward Brock Boeser, the Vancouver Canucks have a couple of very important players on their roster that are eligible to sign contract extensions as of 9 am PT on Tuesday, July 1st.
The two most well-known players that are eligible for extensions this summer are Conor Garland and Thatcher Demko, both of whom have enjoyed plenty of success with the Vancouver Canucks, but their futures with the team are unclear entering the summer.
During an appearance on Donnie & Dhali this week, Thomas Drance shared that if the Vancouver Canucks struggle to get both of them signed to contract extensions, that he could consider trading them.
"Demko, Garland - you know, the guys who are extension eligible - I think if you're struggling to get their autograph on an extension, if those contract talks end up finding their wheels spinning, then yeah (they could consider moving them)," Drance said.
He added, "Those are valuable players who the club may have to take a long look at considering whether they pivot and utilize those guys to sort of improve or get younger or get players that have term on their deals, just given sort of the precarious spot in their team-building cycle that this team finds itself at."
He added, "Those are valuable players who the club may have to take a long look at considering whether they pivot and utilize those guys to sort of improve or get younger or get players that have term on their deals, just given sort of the precarious spot in their team-building cycle that this team finds itself at."
Contract extensions for Thatcher Demko and Conor Garland will certainly be discussed in the coming weeks and over the summer, but it's hard to see anything getting done this summer, especially with their netminder, who has struggled with injuries over the last 12 months.
As for Conor Garland, he was asked recently on Donnie & Dhali about his future with the club, but the 29-year-old said he's leaving that stuff to his agent at this time.
"I love Vancouver. It's a great city. I really warmed up to it last year, obviously winning helps, but this year, I just really enjoy the city, living in it, having a son this year and having a place where I can take him and walk.
I find it a lot like Boston, very opposite side of the continent, but you know, I've got a great agent, he handles that stuff, I just play hockey and that's what I love doing and enjoy doing and that's how I look at it, that's up to him." Garland said.
I find it a lot like Boston, very opposite side of the continent, but you know, I've got a great agent, he handles that stuff, I just play hockey and that's what I love doing and enjoy doing and that's how I look at it, that's up to him." Garland said.
We'll have to wait and see how the summer unfolds, but one would have to assume that the Vancouver Canucks' management group will make a push to get Conor Garland locked up and keeping him around for the foreseeable future as he's an extremely valuable piece to the team and a leader in the dressing room.
| POLL | ||
MAI 24 | 1516 ANSWERS It's Not Looking Too Promising For Thatcher Demko's Future with the Vancouver Canucks Which player do you think is more likely to be traded by the Vancouver Canucks before next season's deadline? | ||
| Thatcher Demko | 872 | 57.5 % |
| Conor Garland | 277 | 18.3 % |
| Teddy Blueger | 367 | 24.2 % |
| List of polls | ||