Goalie Thatcher Demko won’t be a full participant when the Vancouver Canucks open training camp in Penticton, B.C., on Thursday. General manager Ryan Johnson says the 30-year-old American netminder will still get on the ice, but won’t be part of the main group as he continues to recover after having season-ending hip surgery in late January. Johnson says the plan is part of the NHL team’s process as it works to get Demko back up to full health. Injuries have plagued the former Vezina finalist in recent seasons and he was limited to just 20 appearances over the 2025-26 campaign, going 8-10-1 with a 2.90 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. His last game came on Jan. 10 when he left midway through Vancouver’s 5-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kevin Lankinen took over at the Canucks’ starter and the team finished the season at the vey bottom of the NHL standings. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2026.
