Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko told reporters at the team’s year-end media conference that he played through an injury for the final month of the 2021–22 season.
“Yeah, so it happened probably about a month ago, and it was during the game. I knew something was up right away, but obviously, we were kind of in the mix there,” Demko said on Sunday. “So, it was something I was trying to play through for the last little bit here and ultimately, when it got to a certain point, I made the decision with the medical staff to shut it down.
“We’re still thinking about what the next steps might be,” Demko added after being asked about whether surgery might be required to correct the injury.
The Canucks’ full end-of-season media availability can be found below. Demko, Tyler Myers, and Tanner Pearson begin speaking with reporters at the 54:55 mark of the video.
Demko, 26, appeared in a career-high 64 games with the Canucks this season, posting a 33–22–7 record and a .915 save percentage.
The San Diego, CA product made his last appearance in the Canucks’ 6–3 loss to the Calgary Flames on April 23, stopping 25 of the 30 shots he faced in the game.
The 2021–22 campaign was the first season covered by the five-year, $25 million contract extension Demko signed with the Canucks on March 31, 2021. Demko will cost $5 million against the Canucks’ salary cap for the next four seasons.
The Canucks finished in fifth place in the Pacific Division with a 40–30–12 record in 2021–22, ending up just five points back of the Nashville Predators for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
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