Welcome to a jump start to your NHL Free Agent signing period in 2025. Here is our latest installment from NHL Rumours at Last Word On Hockey. Today we visit the wet coast, and find out about their goaltending. It seems it is a topic that general manager Patrik Allvin prioritizes. So, let’s figure it out.
Sources say #Canucks and goaltender Thatcher Demko are closing in on a contract extension that will keep him in Vancouver.
Demko is eligible to sign an extension as soon as tomorrow and it sounds like that will indeed happen.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 30, 2025
NHL Rumours: The Canucks Look to Secure Things Between the Pipes
Rumour: Frank Seravalli dropped some rumours on us, regarding the Canucks big name goaltender, Thatcher Demko. He’s saying that the Canucks are re-signing him as soon as possible.
Analysis: Do the Canucks and the goalie himself want to find common ground, most probably, yes.
This is a bit of an interesting story. Thatcher Demko is one of the top goalies in the NHL, when he’s healthy. Case in point, in 2023-24, when he played 51 games, he was 35-14-2 for Vancouver, and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting. Those are some amazing stats.
However, we did say the key phrase, when he’s healthy. If we look back at Demko’s career since 2019-20, we see a lot of inconsistency. There was only one other season he played more than 51 games (64 in 2021-22). The other four campaigns that he has been an NHL regular, he’s played in 35 or fewer games. That’s not good enough, and you just need better consistency from your starter. What else can we say?
A Look at Demko’s Story
As per our NHL Rumours, Thatcher Demko doesn’t become a free agent until the end of next season. He will be able to sign his contract extension anytime within a full-year of that happening. So, July 1st, today, is the beginning of that time. The idea is the Canucks don’t want to mess around with his contract. Thus, the news that the two sides want to make a deal as soon as possible makes sense. Demko is 29, and equally, doesn’t want to mess around with his contract. He can’t really risk anything happening, that could potentially jeopardize such a deal. He’s already done more than enough to prove himself.
Moreover, he knows his worth to the club. If he can stay healthy, there’s no reason he can’t, at least, have three-or-four good seasons ahead of him, as the starter of a playoff-bound team. That’s what the Canucks would be banking on throughout the time span of this next contract. Luckily, he doesn’t have better overall numbers, or he may have priced himself out of Vancouver. The Canucks should be able to make him a fair offer, as he is a star player, but avoid breaking the bank. With a healthy Demko, the Canucks are a different team. Stars like Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson are there to build a great foundation around. Once they can establish who wants to be there, and who can be a winner, then they know who they need to build around. It seems they are a team trying to find its identity. Finding Demko under contract is a great way to find your identity.
Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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