NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks - Source: ImagnNHL insider provides significant update on Canucks goalie’s return timeline [IMAGN]

Thatcher Demko suffered a brutal injury during the NHL preseason and he’s going to be sidelined for the foreseeable future. It’s unfortunate timing with the regular season mere days away, but fortunately, the recovery timeline doesn’t look too bad at first glance.

Darren Dreger of TSN said:

“It’s optimism on both fronts. The outside timeline – and let’s not staple this down – is 3-4 weeks. And we know that Dakota Joshua is continuing to recover from testicular cancer and the treatments that go along with that. So, that sounds like great news. He’s an important team guy.”

Dreger went on to call it a “mysterious knee recovery situation,” adding that there aren’t “a lot of details what’s actually going on there,” but expects a nearly month-long recovery period.

Dreger said not to worry if the absence seems to continue for longer:

“I don’t think there should be panic across the board. But again, a sense of optimism if you’re looking at it internally from the Canucks’ perspective that those two pieces — especially Demko, who’s kidding who, he’s a game changer as an NHL netminder.”

Dreger believes if the Canucks can get him “into the mix early into the regular season,” the team will be in a much better place for the duration of the season. Demko is coming off a career season with a 35-14-2 record, a .918% save percentage, 5 shutouts and 25.83 goals saved above expected.

Exploring Canucks’ depth chart in wake of Thatcher Demko timeline

For at least the first month of the season, perhaps slightly more or slightly less, the Vancouver Canucks will be without Thatcher Demko. Their depth in goal will be tested. Their talent back there will be as well since it’s always a tough loss to overcome when a player is as talented as Demko.

Thatcher Demko is going to be out for a month (Imagn)Thatcher Demko is going to be out for a month (Imagn)

Kevin Lankinen takes over as the primary goalkeeper, with Arturs Silovs backing him up. They were both shifted up after Demko’s injury. There is no third keeper now that Demko is inactive.

There are some players that have been cut very recently as NHL rosters had to be trimmed from the preseason. The Canucks could look into some of them to provide depth and an able body in the net, but as of now, it’s just Silovs and Lankinen.