Thatcher Demko | #35 | G

[UticaHockey]

17 minutes ago, Gooseberries said:

Stat watching demko this season has been disappointing. what does he look like in between the pipes on your end? think he would fare better if he had more starts?

I said on here last year when Demko was first signed that everyone needs to keep their expectations realistic.  Almost all goalies will struggle at first adjusting to the pro game.  Thatcher even said himself that it has been an adjustment because the shots are quicker and there is much more traffic in front of the net.

 

He has looked just as I expected him to look....make some great saves but also give up some goals that he should have stopped.  He was giving up too many goals high on the glove side in his first few games and Rollie has been working with him on glove positioning and to not go down into his butterfly so soon. The raw talent is obvious but there are technical flaws in his game that need to be worked out.

 

Demko needs to get into a routine where he is studying film and working with Rollie during the week on technical aspects of his game and then playing on the weekends to apply what he is learning.  But to do this he can't be watching Bachman play with a ball cap on from the end of the bench. Demko will have some bad games as every young goalie has but with the right amount of work and teaching he should continue to improve as the season goes on.

 

For those who expected him to be NHL ready this season or possibly next should step back and give the kid some time to develop.  I don't expect Demko to replace Miller next year in Vancouver.  The smart thing to do would be to sign a proven NHL back up goalie to a short term deal and let Demko work on his game another year in the AHL.

[Alflives]

31 minutes ago, Gooseberries said:

Stat watching demko this season has been disappointing. what does he look like in between the pipes on your end? think he would fare better if he had more starts?

The other goalie got hurt last night, so Demko finished up the last 10 minutes.  He's got the raw talents for sure, but needs to play.  He should get that chance now.  The Canucks will need another goalie in Utica though.  

[elvis15]

It'll take Demko a bit to get adjusted, and particularly coming from the NCAA schedule it's not a bad idea to ease him in. He's working a lot with Melanson I'm sure and they'll want to balance his practice and game time to allow him chances to work on it all. No reason to rush him to be the saviour of the Comets or the Canucks. Let's develop him properly.

[-AJ-]

Looks like Bachman was injured in that last game meaning Demko may be getting a much heavier workload soon. It'll be interesting to see how he handles it. I'm not expecting much (he's still young), but maybe we'll be surprised.

[Chronic.Canuck]

I'm excited to see how Demko and Garteig handle the challenge while Bachman's out. Utica looks like they might be able about to turn the corner (I hope)

[Beary Sweet]

2 hours ago, Chronic.Canucks.Fan said:

I'm excited to see how Demko and Garteig handle the challenge while Bachman's out. Utica looks like they might be able about to turn the corner (I hope)

Yeah you bet. Ever since the Canucks have sent Virtanen there, they've been undefeated if I can recall. So it's nice to see them work from bottom to top of the standings again hopefully.

Edited November 23, 2016 by Beary Sweet

[-AJ-]

Demko had a strong game against Syracuse on Wednesday, stopping 31 of 32 shots. His numbers are better than Bachman's in all areas (though admittedly still not very good).

[Mackcanuck]

Ryan BiechVerified account ‏@ryanbiech  5m5 minutes ago

In his last four games (and one relief appearance) Thatcher Demko is 4-0-0 with 2.14 GAA and 0.930 SV%

[Rush17]

17 hours ago, Mackcanuck said:

Ryan BiechVerified account ‏@ryanbiech  5m5 minutes ago

In his last four games (and one relief appearance) Thatcher Demko is 4-0-0 with 2.14 GAA and 0.930 SV%

very very nice young demko of the thatcher!!!

[Mackcanuck]

Ryan Biech ‏@ryanbiech  11h11 hours ago

In his last seven appearances - Thatcher Demko is 5-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and 0.932 SV%

 

 

[Chronic.Canuck]

4 minutes ago, Mackcanuck said:

Ryan Biech ‏@ryanbiech  11h11 hours ago

In his last seven appearances - Thatcher Demko is 5-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and 0.932 SV%

 

 

Unreal. I was hoping Demko and Garteig could step up to the pressure with Bachman out but it seems Thatcher is doing plenty of good work on his own.

[Derp...]

Boom, watch out. When this guy makes his mind up that he's going to win, he does it. Love that.

[Alflives]

1 hour ago, Chronic.Canucks.Fan said:

Unreal. I was hoping Demko and Garteig could step up to the pressure with Bachman out but it seems Thatcher is doing plenty of good work on his own.

Do we trade Markstrom, and resign Miller?

[Gurn]

11 minutes ago, Alflives said:

Do we trade Markstrom, and resign Miller?

Wrong thread but I'll take a swing:

I've been thinking about this for the last few days, if Miller just walks at the end of the year the team gains $6 mill inn cap space- which is a valuable asset to have just by itself. If he can be traded for a pick and cap space that is a big win, however Markstrom would most likely get a bigger trade return, but if Miller re-signs it would be for a larger cap hit than Markstrom' s $ 3.667 mill. If Miller re-signed for $5 mill  does the money difference equal a draft pick?

 

Seems that no matter what happens in net the Canucks improve in the end, either with money or picks or both.

[Alflives]

2 minutes ago, gurn said:

Wrong thread but I'll take a swing:

I've been thinking about this for the last few days, if Miller just walks at the end of the year the team gains $6 mill inn cap space- which is a valuable asset to have just by itself. If he can be traded for a pick and cap space that is a big win, however Markstrom would most likely get a bigger trade return, but if Miller re-signs it would be for a larger cap hit than Markstrom' s $ 3.667 mill. If Miller re-signed for $5 mill  does the money difference equal a draft pick?

 

Seems that no matter what happens in net the Canucks improve in the end, either with money or picks or both.

It sounds like Demko is going to be ready sooner, rather than later.  If we trade Markstrom, that creates a space for Demko.  Then Miller resigns as the veteran presence?

[Boudrias]

2 minutes ago, Alflives said:

It sounds like Demko is going to be ready sooner, rather than later.  If we trade Markstrom, that creates a space for Demko.  Then Miller resigns as the veteran presence?

Backup tenders are plentiful in the NHL. The Canucks will not be serious contenders for 4 - 5 years. Markstrom will carry the team for the next 2 - 3 years. Miller should be traded at the TDL for a 2nd Rounder hopefully. I suggest a 2nd is possible because Miller's contract ends. If at the end of 2 - 3 years Demko looks like a solid successor then Markstrom can be traded. Demko has not proven himself yet. I suspect he spends at least 2 years in Utica.

[Stierlitz]

 

[Junkyard Dog]

Just now, Stierlitz said:

 

 

Good. Let him have reins there. Bachman can be backup when he gets healthy.

 

Hopefully Thatcher the Snatcher can keep it up.

 

Maybe Utica gets another Calder Cup run within the next few years

[hobart16]

Demko looked awfully good the last two nights; and the Albany Devils team is pretty solid.  He's getting the hang of the pro game and is so square and calm all the time, just a pleasure to watch.  

[Rush17]

1 hour ago, hobart16 said:

Demko looked awfully good the last two nights; and the Albany Devils team is pretty solid.  He's getting the hang of the pro game and is so square and calm all the time, just a pleasure to watch.  

hope I can catch a game soon