As the Vancouver Canucks gear up for the upcoming hockey season, the anticipation is at an all-time high. The team’s prospects are set to showcase their skills at the annual Young Stars tournament in Penticton, BC this weekend, giving fans a glimpse of the future of the franchise.
But the real excitement is building for the team’s training camp, scheduled to begin on September 19 in Penticton and run until September 22. This marks the official start of the hockey season for the Canucks, and it’s a chance for players to hit the ice and start fresh. The preseason games are set to kick off on September 24 against the Seattle Kraken, setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating season.
However, amidst all the buzz surrounding the Canucks, there are some compelling storylines to watch out for as the team heads into training camp. The first revolves around the goaltender situation, with star goalie Thatcher Demko’s health status up in the air. Demko seemed to reinjure his knee in the playoffs, prompting concerns about his readiness for the upcoming season.
“In August, things got weirder,” as Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK TV and Thomas Drance of The Athletic reported that Demko may not be fully ready for training camp and was still rehabbing from the knee injury. The uncertainty surrounding Demko’s status has raised questions about whether the Canucks will bring in another goaltender to shore up their goaltending depth.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman offered some insight, stating that he believes the Canucks are not panicking and that Demko will not miss significant time. This provides some reassurance for fans who are eagerly awaiting the return of their star goaltender.
Adding to the intrigue, it was recently revealed that Demko’s backup, Arturs Silovs, had been dealing with a knee issue of his own. Despite missing Latvia’s Olympic qualifying tournament, Silovs has been back on the ice with his teammates, signaling a positive step towards his potential readiness for training camp.
With both Demko and Silovs dealing with injuries, the Canucks have taken precautions by signing Jiri Patera in the offseason. However, rumors are swirling about the team’s potential interest in veteran goaltenders Kevin Lankinen and Antti Raanta, adding another layer of uncertainty to the goaltender situation heading into training camp.
As the Canucks prepare to hit the ice and embark on a new season, all eyes will be on the goaltender situation, making it a storyline to watch closely as the team gears up for what promises to be an exciting and eventful campaign.
