Thatcher Demko signs a five-year extension with the Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks were heading towards the offseason with three incredibly important contracts that needed to be signed.

One down, two to go.

Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman and TSN’s Frank Seravalli are both reporting that Thatcher Demko has signed a five-year extension with the Canucks, with an average annual value of $5 million.

Demko unofficially became the starting goaltender for the Canucks in the Edmonton bubble last August, when he tortured the Vegas Golden Knights with other-worldly goaltending, single-handedly carrying the Canucks within minutes of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Even though Braden Holtby started the opening game of the 2021 season for the Canucks, Demko has firmly taken over as the starter, and he’s even earned some Vezina whispers in the process.

While there have been some questionable decisions made by Jim Benning and this management group over the past few months, the decision to keep Demko and let Jacob Markstrom walk has so far proven to be a solid one.

Demko is already one of the best young goalies in the league, and thankfully he’s back in the fold for the next five seasons.

Now, can the Canucks build a formidable team around him?