Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will undergo hip surgery and miss the remainder of the season, the team announced Tuesday.
"After consulting with our team doctors and outside specialists, Thatcher Demko will be shut down for the rest of the year," Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said.
"Thatcher will undergo surgery next week for an injury unrelated to the one that kept him out of action last season. Following his rehab, he will be ready for the start of training camp in September."
Demko, 30, sustained a lower-body injury during Vancouver's 5-0 setback to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Jan. 10. He allowed three goals on six shots before departing prior to the start of the second period.
Kevin Lankinen is expected to shoulder much of the workload for the struggling Canucks, who have lost 13 of their last 14 games (1-11-2).
Signed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension in the summer, Demko owns an 8-10-1 record with one shutout, a 2.90 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage in 20 games (all starts) this season. He previously missed 12 games with a separate injury issue from Nov. 11 to Dec. 11.
A Vezina Trophy finalist in 2024, Demko is 134-99-21 with 10 shutouts, a 2.81 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 262 career games (256 starts). The Canucks selected Demko in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft.
--Field Level Media
