The 2023/24 Vancouver Canucks were one of the NHL's most exciting teams to watch, but when the playoffs came, they broke down with an injury, as Thatcher Demko missed the key series against the Edmonton Oilers and fell in the second round. Unfortunately, things haven't gotten any better for him, as reporter Rick Dhaliwal has now revealed that Demko isn't progressing the way that many expected, and he may not be 100% healthy by the time the regular season begins.
At the time of the 2024 NHL Draft, he hadn't skated since missing the second-round matchup with Edmonton, and unsurprisingly, the team is now getting worried, with reports revealing that they are exploring the trade market as potential insurance.
It's unclear at this point just who is available, but if Demko's health doesn't improve, the team may need to swing big, because if his health fails again, the team have little chance of making a Stanley Cup push with their current group behind him.