Insiders share updates on Thatcher Demko and Dakota Joshua

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Cooper Godin
October 7, 2024 (1:27 PM)

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TSN's Darren Dreger and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman have shared updates on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko and Dakota Joshua.

On the eve of the 2024-25 season beginning here in North America, a pair of insiders have shared updates on Dakota Joshua and Thatcher Demko. Joshua hasn't been able to participate skates or preseason games during training camp after announcing his testicular cancer diagnosis, while Thatcher Demko continues to work his way back from knee injuries he sustained towards the end of the regular season and in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Nashville Predators.

On Monday's edition of Sekeres and Price, TSN's Darren Dreger gave a pretty positive update on the status of Thatcher Demko and Dakota Joshua. Dreger said that the outside timeline for both Demko and Joshua as of right now is three-to-four weeks.

"Yeah, look man it's optimism on both front. The outside timeline and you know, let's not staple this down entirely, is three-to-four weeks for both guys. We know that Dakota Joshua is continuing to recover from testicular cancer and the treatments that go along with that. So that sounds like great news and you guys know the importance of Joshua, in a team dynamic. He's an important team guy. So you'll get that injection there." Dreger said.

He went on to add, "Thatcher Demko and that mysterious knee recovery situation. Not a lot of details are known on what's actually going on there, but again same sort of timeline and that's three-to-four weeks. So if it's a bit shy of three weeks, if it drifts into that fourth week, I don't think there should be panic across the board. But again, a sense of optimism if you're looking at it internally from the Canucks perspective that those two pieces, especially Demko who's a game changer as an NHL netminder. If they can get him into the mix early in the regular season, a month in worst case scenario and I think that puts Vancouver in a really good position moving forward."

Contrary to what Darren Dreger said, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said while on Donnie & Dhali that there is no timeline on Thatcher Demko right now. Friedman added that the Canucks are going to take their time with Demko and are confident in the tandem of Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen to start the season.

As for Dakota Joshua, Friedman believes, like Dreger, that he's a few weeks away from game action and is back skating as he continues his own recovery.

Whether it's three weeks, four weeks or beyond, whenever Thatcher Demko and Dakota Joshua are able to return to the Vancouver Canucks, it's going to boost everyone's morale and both will be a big help to the team this year as they look to make a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.