A Wednesday morning roster move by the Vancouver Canucks involving Thatcher Demko may raise a fan’s eyebrows, but don’t worry, there’s a method to the apparent madness.
First of all Arshdeep Bains is back, apparently as cover for Elias Lindholm, who was again absent from Canucks practice on Wednesday.
That’s an easy move to understand: head coach Rick Tocchet has been an outspoken fan of the rookie and wants him around to further fine tune his game. He showed plenty of promise in his previous recall this season but it was also clear that to become a full-time NHLer, he’ll have to erase some of the warts that remain in his game.
The real move that might draw the attention of fans is Demko landing on not just injured reserve, but long-term injured reserve.
First of all, the Canucks have been running a roster with Demko still listed as active, even though he’s been previously announced as week-to-week. To be on regular injured reserve, you must be out for at least a week.
And normally you move a player on to IR to open up a roster spot, but after the trade deadline, there’s no roster limit, so such a move is unnecessary.
Using LTIR in this case means two things: he’s going to be out of the lineup for 10 days and 24 days, plus his salary doesn’t count toward the cap limit.
This move means Demko, who the team has said is only dealing with a lower-body injury though it’s suspected to be a minor knee sprain, won’t be eligible to return until Apr. 6 at the earliest.
Speaking after practice Wednesday at the University of B.C., Tocchet said Demko remained on course for a return some time around Apr. 6.
That, though was always the suspected timeline: Tocchet said after the injury was first confirmed that the veteran goalie would return with time to spare before the playoffs and reporters like Bob Marjanovich and Farhan Lalji have suggested a three-to-four week timeline.
