Goaltending has been a hot-button topic in Vancouver in recent weeks.
Fittingly, we’re taking a look at the Canucks’ updated goaltending depth chart heading into the 2024-25 season.
Thatcher Demko
Even with him bordering on being labelled injury-prone, Thatcher Demko is still undeniably at the top of the food chain among Canucks netminders. The runner-up to Connor Hellebuyck in Vezina Trophy voting last season, Demko is one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders, even if there are legitimate questions surrounding his ability to stay healthy.
Last season, Demko posted a .918 save percentage and flourished behind a Canucks team that actually played defence for the first time in years. Canucks fans knew for years how good of a goaltender Demko is and was, but last season marked the first season where the rest of the league got to see it too.
Obviously, everyone hopes Demko can remain healthy once he’s ready to play this season. Upon returning, the expectation is for Demko to keep up his elite level of play and, this time, be a factor for the Canucks in the playoffs.
2024-25 projection: NHL starter and Vezina candidate… when healthy.
Arturs Silovs
Look, a certain writer told you years ago that you should be higher on Arturs Silovs, and it just so happens that writer is also the one writing this article. So yes, I’m taking a victory lap on Arturs Silovs being the undeniable number two on the Canucks’ depth chart at the age of 23.
Despite some knee inflammation found by Team Latvia that held Silovs off his home country’s Olympic qualifying roster, the Canucks’ 2024 playoff hero appears to be healthy and ready to go for training camp, and there’s a good chance he’s the NHL starter heading into 2024-25 while Demko rehabs his injury.
2024-25 projection: NHL starter to begin the year, 1B/backup when Demko is healthy.
Jiri Patera
The Canucks signed Jiri Patera this offseason for two reasons. The first, to put some pressure on Silovs for the NHL backup job, and two, to provide organizational depth at the position after losing Casey DeSmith. At 25, Patera is an interesting case. He put up a .903 save percentage on a horrendous Henderson Silver Knights team in the AHL last season, and comes with plenty of raw tools.
Patera’s power in his legs is undeniable, and the job for Marko Torenius now will be harnessing that power and trying to turn Patera into a bonafide NHL backup who can push for starts.
As we learned last year, the more good goaltenders, the better.
2024-25 projection: Third string goaltender, with a chance to push his way past Silovs with some improvement.
Nikita Tolopilo
Speaking of good goaltenders, don’t sleep on Nikita Tolopilo. The 24-year-old put up a .905 save percentage through 35 games with the Abbotsford Canucks last season, a fine first season in North America. With Silovs graduating to the big club, Tolopilo figures to be the new guy in Abby, although him and Silovs did split starting duties for the majority of last season.
He’ll likely have Patera in the AHL with him, but make no mistake about it, Tolopilo has real NHL potential that the Canucks are hoping he’ll continue to discover in 2024-25.
2024-25 projection: Become an elite AHL starter and knock on the door for NHL opportunities.
Ty Young
Ty Young wasn’t present at Prince George Cougars camp, and if he were to return, the PG crease is crowded with highly-touted goaltending prospect Joshua Ravensbergen expected to pick up the bulk of the starts.
The Canucks signed Young to his ELC, so he may be headed for the ECHL this season and get his pro career started. Young is a certified project goaltender that has made improvements every year, and the Canucks will hope to continue this development path for the soon-to-be 20-year-old goaltender.
2024-25 projection: Either ask for a trade within the WHL or turn pro and head to the ECHL.
Aku Koskenvuo
Another goaltender taken in the Ian Clark mould of having great length, Aku Koskenvuo had a much better year at Harvard this past season than he did in year one.
In year one, Koskenvuo appeared in just two games and posted an .875 save percentage. This past season, Koskenvuo bumped that up to a .910 over 17 appearances with Harvard. He’ll have more opportunities to start in 2024-25, and this is certainly a prospect the Canucks believe in.
Here’s what Dave Hall wrote about Koskenvuo’s season outlook in a recent edition of Blackfish:
“For what it’s worth, we see an argument for Aku Koskenvuo turning pro at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. He has shown some decent progress in his development, and we’ve liked what we’ve seen. Ultimately, we wonder if contracts will be the deciding factor. Thatcher Demko, Arturs Silovs, and Jiri Patera are all signed through the 2025-26 season, and we anticipate Nikita Tolopilo to sign an extension once his deal expires at the end of next year. In a game of goalie musical chairs, he may not have a seat, and that may force him back to school.”
So with all that in mind, the hope for Koskenvuo is to keep developing and force his way into pro hockey at some point either this season or next.
2024-25 prediction: Take another positive step at Harvard with the potential to turn pro at the end of the season.
