ThatcherDemko

News: 15 hours agoDemko (hip) won't be a full participant in training camp, Canucks play-by-play announcer Brendan Batchelor reports Wednesday.

Spin: Demko was sidelined to close out the 2025-26 campaign due to hip surgery, and the Canucks announced last week that he doesn't yet have a timetable for his return. While he isn't expected to be among the main groups to open camp, the netminder will be on the ice in Penticton with his teammates as he continues his recovery process. It remains unclear if Demko will be available for the start of the regular season. Kevin Lankinen, Chris Driedger and Nikita Tolopilo are candidates to see time in net if Demko remains sidelined.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Demko's injury history is as extensive as any goaltender in the league, and that continued last season. He made just 20 appearances for Vancouver (8-10-1, 2.90 GAA, .895 save percentage) and none after January 10. It was a hip injury that ended Demko's year and he wasn't able to get back on the ice until late June. He's played just 43 games the past two seasons combined. Demko would be a super risky fantasy option under the best of circumstances, but with the Canucks -- who finished with the worst record in the NHL a season ago -- neck-deep in a rebuild, there's simply no reason to take the plunge, especially now that he is out indefinitely heading into camp. Demko is almost certain to post mediocre numbers even if he is able to make it through most of the year in one piece.