Canucks nearing extension with Demko, have one in place with Garland
Published
The Vancouver Canucks and goaltender Thatcher Demko are closing in on a contract extension, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger.
Dreger adds there is agreement between the two sides on term, but still some work being done on the dollar figure and structure. Demko will be eligible to sign the extension on Tuesday.
TSN's Farhan Lalji reports the Canucks also have an extension in place with Conor Garland, which can become official on Tuesday.
The news Monday should Demko leave signed alongside goaltenders Arturs Silovs and Kevin Lankinen on Vancouver's roster. Lankinen is set to begin a five-year, $22.5 million deal next season, while Silovs is scheduled to become a restricted free agent after next season.
Demko, 29, had a 10-8-3 record last season with the Canucks, recording a 2.90 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
He missed the first two months of the season while dealing with a lower-body injury he sustained during the 2023-24 playoffs. He also missed 15 games later in the season while dealing with a second lower-body injury.
The 6-foot-4 netminder is entering the final season of a five-year, $25 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $5 million. He is currently scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
Drafted 36th overall by the Canucks in 2014, Demko has a career record of 126-89-20 with a 2.80 GAA and .910 save percentage.
Demko’s best season came during the 2023-24 season where he went 35-14-2 record with a 2.45 GAA and .918 save percentage and finished second in Vezina Trophy voting.
The San Diego, Calif., native represented the United States at the 2019 World Championship in an eighth-place finish.
Garland staying put
The 29-year-old Garland posted 19 goals and 50 points in 81 games this past season.
He is entering the last of a five-year deal that carried a $4.95 million average annual value.
Garland has been a consistent presence for the Canucks posting between 17-20 goals and 46-52 points in each of the past four seasons in Vancouver.
A fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2015, he has 122 goals and 291 points in 485 career games with the Coyotes and Canucks.
Canucks bring back Sasson
The Canucks stayed busy on Monday, reaching a one-year deal with forward Max Sasson, per his agent Dan Milstein.
Sasson, 24, had three goals and seven points in 29 games this past season for Vancouver. He also suited up in 41 AHL games for the Abbotsford Canucks, tallying 13 goals and 32 points in 41 games.
Bains, Raty, Brisebois all retained
A busy afternoon for the Canucks continued with retaining three more players in forwards Arshdeep Bains and Aatu Raty and defenceman Guillaume Brisebois.
Bains, 24, is a native of nearby Surrey, BC and returns on a two-year deal. Terms were not disclosed.
An undrafted free agent out of the Western Hockey League's Red Deer Rebels, Bains made his NHL debut during the 2023-2024 season. He appeared in 13 contests for the Canucks last season, scoring a goal.
Bains spent most of the season with the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks with whom he won the Calder Cup last week. He had seven goals and seven assists in 24 playoff games.
Raty's deal is also for two years and comes with an average annual value of $775,000.
A native of Oulu, Finland, Raty was acquired by the Canucks as part of the deal that sent Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders in January of 2023.
He appeared in 33 games for the Canucks this past season, scoring seven goals and adding four assists.
The 22-year-old Raty was also a part of the Calder Cup run for Abbotsford, appearing in six games and registering three assists.
Brisebois is back on a one-year, two-way deal.
The 66th overall selection of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft out of the QMJHL's Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Brisebois has appeared in 30 NHL games over five seasons for the Canucks, including three this past season. He has one goal and two assists.
The 27-year-old native of Longueuil, Que. had two goals and an assists in 24 games during Abbotsford's championship run.