On Thursday night, the NHL Network will be starting their nine-part series looking at the league's best players by position and an overall ranking and first up is goaltenders.
Before the NHL Network show, the writers at NHL.com shared their opinions on who should be the top ranked goaltender heading into the 2024-25 season and for Mike G. Morreale, he chose Vancouver Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko.
Morreale says that Demko was a big reason for the Canucks' turnaround last season and if he's 100% healthy after dealing injuries down the stretch and Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 28-year-old is the best goaltender entering the 2024-25 campaign. He also added that he believes Demko will be on the US' roster for the 4 Nations Face-off in early 2025.
Demko, a native of San Diego, California, appeared in 51 games for the Canucks last season where he had a record of 35-14-2 along with a 2.45 goals against average, a .918 save percentage and five shutouts.
It's going to be another big season for Thatcher Demko and he'll be relied on heavily by Rick Tocchet throughout the year to get them back to the position they were in during the 2023-24 campaign and potentially repeat as Pacific Division champions. We'll have to wait and see where the NHL Network ranks Thatcher Demko heading into the 2024-25 season, but there's no doubt he should be in the top-five, at least.
Source: NHL.comBest goalie entering this season debated by NHL.com
POLL | ||
8 AOUT | 150 ANSWERS Journalist makes a bold claim regarding Canucks' Thatcher Demko: It's promising Do you think Thatcher Demko is a top-five goalie in the NHL? | ||
Yes | 129 | 86 % |
No | 13 | 8.7 % |
I think he's top-three | 8 | 5.3 % |
List of polls |