Overview
- Demko skated for the first time since his hip operation in a short on-ice session reported Wednesday, and he posted that the recovery has been a "long road" with more work ahead.
- The January hip surgery ended Demko's 2025-26 season and followed a pattern of recurring injuries that limited him to roughly 20–23 games in each of the past two campaigns.
- When healthy, Demko has shown top-tier play, including a Vezina-calibre 2023-24 season, but his availability has repeatedly prevented him from sustaining a No. 1 workload.
- Demko is due to start a three-year, $8.5 million extension with a full no-movement clause on July 1, and his contract combined with Kevin Lankinen's deal ties up about $13 million in cap space for Vancouver.
- Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson praised Demko's work and headspace but declined to commit to his being ready for training camp, leaving the team to weigh short-term tandem plans and longer-term roster choices.