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The Vancouver Canucks Can't and Won't Keep Both Thatcher Demko & Kevin Lankinen
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
With whispers of a goaltending controversy already out there, the Vancouver Canucks stoked the flames after last week's singing of Kevin Lankinen left some wondering what's next for Thatcher Demko.
Lankinen's recently announced five year extension kicks in next season, and he's made a case this year to be the starter over Demko.
Can the Vancouver Canucks keep both Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko?
The Canucks are no stranger to goaltending controversy, perhaps most notably with Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, and may have once again found themselves in one.
The new extension for Lankinen, who has been found gold for the Canucks this season, has done nothing but increase the questions around Thatcher Demko's future in Vancouver.
On the one hand, Demko is among the league's very best goalies when he's healthy and at his best but, on the other hand, it seems to be rarer and rarer that he is.
Demko has once again found himself on injured reserve and even when healthy this season has not played up to his standard, posting just an .891 save percentage in 17 games this year.
Lankinen meanwhile has been one of the Canucks most valuable players, and one of the main reasons they're in a fight for a wild card spot.
Some now wonder whether the Canucks should move on from Thatcher Demko, cutting their losses rather than going into next season with a $9.5 million tandem and a star goalie whose health cannot exactly be trusted.
The team could elect to trade him in the offseason, but with his value at an all time low, don't be surprised to see the Canucks try this tandem again in 2025/26.
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 23 | 701 ANSWERS The Vancouver Canucks Can't and Won't Keep Both Thatcher Demko & Kevin Lankinen What should the Vancouver Canucks do with their goaltending tandem? | ||
| Move on from Demko and go Lankinen/Silovs | 398 | 56.8 % |
| Move on from Demko, bring in another veteran | 102 | 14.6 % |
| Keep Demko and sign him long-term | 29 | 4.1 % |
| Wait and see how next season starts | 172 | 24.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
