It's been a long road back but Thatcher Demko's journey is nearing an end. On Tuesday night, Demko will start his first game for the Canucks in nearly eight months.
Demko has technically been in the lineup for the Canucks' last two games but has sat on the bench as the backup for Kevin Lankinen. That allowed Demko to take warmup with the team and get back into the regular routine before finally getting back in the net.
"There's a bunch of factors: you want him to feel comfortable and communicate with him," said head coach Rick Tocchet when asked about the process of getting Demko his first start of the season. "Lanks was playing well too so there wasn't a pressing issue to get him in. But we want to get him in. He's comfortable enough to go in."
Thanks to Lankinen, goaltending hasn't been a major issue for the Canucks through the first 26 games of the season, but Demko's return should still provide a boost, both hockey-wise and emotionally, as his teammates have been thrilled to have him back on the ice.
"Just to have him back in our group and to see how hard he battles," said Conor Garland. "When we talked over the summer, he was just grinding and grinding, and he has been forever. Everybody knows his capabilities — he's the best in the world — so to add a player of that stature back to your lineup is huge. We're super-excited to have him back."
Demko's return should also provide a major boost to Rogers Arena, as the crowd is sure to welcome him back with gusto. Considering the team's struggles on home ice this season — they're 4-6-3 at home compared to 10-2-1 on the road — the Canucks have to hope that emotional boost in the arena will filter down tot he ice.
I also asked Tocchet if the Canucks considered sending Demko down to the AHL for a conditioning stint before he returned to NHL action.
"We talked about it — you want to cover your bases — but I don't think so," said Tocchet. "I think, at the end of the day, this is the best way to do it. Let him go out there and do his thing."
Vancouver Canucks projected lines
While J.T. Miller skated with his teammates on Tuesday morning, he will not be in the lineup on Tuesday night. In fact, the lineup will likely be entirely unchanged apart from Demko stepping into the net as the starting goaltender.
Here are the Canucks' projected lines:
Quinn Hughes was on the ice for the morning skate still in the full faceshield he sported during the Canucks' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning after taking a stick to the face in the opening minute. Due to a miscommunication by the Canucks' staff, Hughes was not made available to speak to the media after the morning skate.
"I don't know what he wore in college but I think everybody's worn a bubble at some point in their career," said Garland. "I mean, he didn't get shot, he got stitches to the mouth and he came back like himself. He's impressive every night but he's obviously taken another step this year...Right now, he's one of the top two or three players in the league, so it's fun to watch every night.
"We've got to make sure, when he's pushing the pace, we are as well."
While Derek Forbort was paired with Erik Brännström during the morning skate, Tocchet suggested that the veteran defenceman won't play on Tuesday night as he continues to work his way back from an injury.
"Very good possibility for Thursday," said Tocchet. "I doubt tonight. He wants to play but I think we'll just wait a little bit."
There's a possibility that Mark Friedman will draw into the lineup in place of Brännström. Friedman was paired with Vincent Desharnais during the morning skate.
St. Louis Blues projected lines
The Blues haven't been great this season but they're riding a new coach bump since the hiring of former Boston Bruins bench boss Jim Montgomery. Since his hiring, the Blues have gone 4-1-1, including wins over tough teams like the Winnipeg Jets and New Jersey Devils.
Here are the Blues' projected lines based on warmup:
Pavel Buchnevich - Robert Thomas - Jordan Kyrou
Brandon Saad - Brayden Schenn - Jake Neighbours
Dylan Holloway - Oskar Sundqvist - Zack Bolduc
Alexey Toropchenko - Radek Faksa - Nathan Walker
Philip Broberg - Colton Parayko
Ryan Suter - Justin Faulk
Pierre-Olivier Joseph - Matthew Kessel
Joel Hofer
Jordan Binnington
Jordan Kyrou is the Blues' leading scorer so far this season with 9 goals and 23 points in 28 games but Robert Thomas is the lone point-per-game player on the roster, with 16 points in 16 games.
The Blues' starting goaltender is expected to be Joel Hofer, who sort of played in the Canucks' system with the Utica Comets during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season when the Blues and Canucks combined their farm teams. The only player currently on the Canucks from that team is Dakota Joshua, who was a Blues prospect at the time.
Hofer is coming off wins over the Jets and New York Rangers in his last two starts.
