The Vancouver Canucks finally got some welcome injury news on Tuesday. Injuries have decimated the team this season, with one player after another going down.
No loss was bigger than that of starting goaltender Thatcher Demko. Demko last appeared on the ice on November 11, missing 12 games. In his place, Kevin Lankinen has held the fort. A couple of great starts by Nikita Tolopilo have also gone a long way.
Now, Demko is set to return to the ice for the Canucks. Vancouver insider Brendan Batchelor reported on Tuesday that the Canucks goalie will be ready to hit the ice on Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
That’s fantastic news for the beleaguered club. The Canucks are in last place in the Pacific Division and looking to salvage what they can from their season. Vancouver is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games and treading water.
That’s why getting Demko back could be just the boost the Canucks need to turn things around. The club has hung tough against some of the league’s tougher opponents, with mixed results. The season is now heading into one of its tougher stretches as the Christmas break looms. That’s why having both goalies on board will be crucial for the Canucks.
Demko Remains Question Mark for Canucks
The 800-pound gorilla in the room is Demko’s durability. He has consistently hit the shelf over the last couple of seasons. That has made it challenging for the Canucks, as there’s no clarity on how long he could stay healthy.
Those concerns will never truly go away until Demko has a solid, healthy stretch. In the meantime, the Canucks will continue looking to get their season back on track. There’s still enough time for the club to right the ship.
Of course, it won’t be easy. The club continues to play without its top players. For instance, the Canucks recently lost Elias Pettersson right before puck drop on Saturday night. They played a fantastic game, beating the Minnesota Wild, 4-2.
However, Monday night was another story entirely. The Detroit Red Wings shut out the Canucks 4-0 at home, leaving the team with plenty of question marks.
Could Hughes Talk Be a Distraction?
The ongoing chatter surrounding Quinn Hughes has grown exponentially. As such, one has to wonder if the never-ending talk has become a distraction. If it has, the Canucks’ management will have to address it at some point.
Of course, the talk will not go away until a trade happens or Hughes signs an extension. Until then, fans and the media will not let the situation go away. Of course, the team itself should get part of the blame. Ever since team president Jim Rutherford had that Freudian slip last summer, the team has been in the eye of the storm.
Be that as it may, the Canucks will need to get through the chatter as well as they can. That situation could mean pushing through the distractions for the remainder of the season. The Hughes situation may not fully come to a head until the offseason. Unfortunately, it could be a long road for the Canucks until something eventually gives.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Canucks Finally Get Welcome Injury News appeared first on Heavy Sports.