Just a few weeks ago, the Vancouver Canucks announced that star goaltender Thatcher Demko would miss 2-3 weeks with a knee injury. Now, things have gotten worse, as the team announced via social media that he is being placed on LTIR, retroactively.
It's unclear exactly how long he will be out, but with the playoffs now less than a month away, this must be a very worrying sign for the Pacific Division leaders. In his place, Casey DeSmith has continued his stellar campaign where he has posted a 2.74 GAA, but if the Canucks want to be taken seriously as a threat in 2024, they need Demko in net.
With an eight point lead atop the Pacific, the may be safe with home ice advantage throughout the playoffs, but this will no doubt have their fans feeling uncomfortable.
We will keep you update with details on this situation as they emerge, but for right now, the playoff fate of the Canucks may hang on the outcome of Demko's knee.
| POLL | ||
MARS 27 | 97 ANSWERS Canucks superstar Thatcher Demko suffers major setback Could the Vancouver Canucks win the Stanley Cup without Thatcher Demko? | ||
| Yes | 27 | 27.8 % |
| No | 70 | 72.2 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
|
LIVE
APRIL 21, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Viktor Arvidsson | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Brandon Hagel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Casey Mittelstadt | - | 2 | 2 | |
| David Pastrnak | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Josh Anderson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Morgan Geekie | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Lane Hutson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nikita Kucherov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Mark Stone | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Pavel Zacha | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cole Caufield | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Erik Cernak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Anthony Cirelli | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Phillip Danault | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jake Evans | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jake Guentzel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||