Canucks Goalie Thatcher Demko Linked to Metropolitan Team

The Vancouver Canucks had a bizarre situation develop in the crease this past season. Their No. 1 goalie coming into the year, and the reigning Vezina Trophy runner-up at the time, Thatcher Demko, began the year injured, so the Canucks were forced to go out and sign free agent Kevin Lankinen at the last minute.

As we all know by now, by the time Demko returned in December, Lankinen had taken a stranglehold on the starter's job and was rewarded by Vancouver with a five-year, $4.5 million AAV extension that kicks in this coming fall. Demko, on the other hand, performed horribly upon his return, and while he recovered somewhat at certain points during the season, he now has just one year remaning on his $5 million cap hit, and has become a trade candidate.

Insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff has listed Demko as one of his top 20 trade candidates this summer. And he's postulating about a fairly sensible fit for the netminder with an Eastern Conference team.

Demko seemed awfully loyal to coach Rick Tocchet. Wondering if a reunion in Philadelphia is possible.

Could Thatcher Demko be a trade target for the Flyers?

The reasons this makes sense include not only former Canucks' coach Tocchet now behind the bench in Philly, but the fact that the goaltending situation with the Flyers has been in flux (and a source of consternation) for a year and a half.

They finished 28th in the NHL with a 3.45 goals-against average and dead last in save percentage at .879 this past season.

Demko, who has a career .910 save percentage and 2.80 GAA, would seem to be an obvious candidate for the Flyers to pursue, to reunite him with Tocchet, and give the team a legit top starter—IF he is fully healthy.