OverDrive - Demko on the extension with the Canucks, repairing the locker room and prioritizing his health

Episode Date: July 2, 2025

Vancouver Canucks Goaltender Thatcher Demko joined OverDrive to discuss his contract extension with the Canucks, his role in the crease in the Vancouver, mending the team through the turmoil in the locker room, the length of the deal on the team, his next steps following his injuries and more.

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Joining us now in the Maple Toyota hotline, fresh off a three-year contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks is Thatcher Demko. Congratulations, man, how you doing? I'm good, yeah, Super excited. It was a busy couple days there, kind of finalizing everything, but ultimately got the paperwork done and yeah, really excited to be going back. So how does it work? Like you get the paper sign, like do you throw a party with all your friends and

family? Like what's going on in the Demco household? Just back in the gym yesterday morning. I'm sure we'll find time to celebrate here but yeah I mean I know I got my work cut out for me this summer and been in good rhythm, good routine, feeling really good and just want to keep that moment and going. So definitely not going off the rails for a couple days or anything, but yeah, we'll find our own way to celebrate here. Hey Thatcher, I heard the Canucks president, Jim Rutherford was talking about you on Toronto radio and he mentioned that you kind of acquired a new trainer recently out of Kelowna and he, you know, in his eyes, it looks like that's been really good for you. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, in his eyes, it looks like that's been really good for you. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, obviously went through a hard stretch last year and kind of just came to the realization that I had to change some things up and, um, really kind of push for, for some new results and, uh, came across this guy through some recommendations from a ton of different guys around the league. He's kind of a biomechanics specialist for goaltending specifically. And just, it's been great. You know, it really opened my eyes, educated me, I think first and foremost about different things that I could do in the gym.

Yeah, again, it's very goaltending specific. So it's really cool to see the correlation off the ice and then obviously transitioning into some of those more specific on-ice positions as well. Our guest is Thatcher Demko, fresh off a three-year contract extension with the Canucks. I'm sure you're pretty thrilled to see Connor Garland get locked up as well. Brock Besser coming back to Vancouver on a seven year deal. Were you surprised at all the transactions that Alveen and

Rutherford were able to pull off yesterday? Yeah, I mean, kudos to those guys for sure. I think ultimately, you know, it comes down to our guys in the room and obviously our locker room went through some stuff last year and the media took hold of it. I think the outside narrative kind of turned out pretty negative at the end of the year. We kind of had a meeting with our leadership group and it really was up to us to say, hey,

are we going to stick around? I think having these guys come back, it shows the league, it shows the media that we are all in and things aren't as bad as they seemed last year for us. We were two years out from winning our division. I think last year we were probably just a handful of points shy from missing the playoffs. Getting the game back together and having guys stick around, I think, proves that we're really excited to run it back and prove to the media and the outside world that things aren't as bad as they seem in Vancouver.

That's interesting, Thatcher. I mean, when you think about what actually happened last year, I mean, things aren't as bad as they seem. I mean, what will be different this year, you know, or what gives you the confidence that things will be different this year? Well, I think there was just some uncertainty with what was going to happen with our locker room at the end of the day, you know, and, you know, it puts guys in tough positions when there's not a ton of security in the locker room.

And, you know, obviously everybody knows about all the drama that went into the Elias Pedersen and JT Miller stuff. And, you know, that really affected our room in a negative way. And I think coming into this year with a fresh slate and really being able to say that we know who's going to be in our locker room from a leadership group standpoint is going to provide just a ton of security for guys and free you guys up to feel like themselves and play their best hockey. So here in Toronto there's been a bunch of talk about the media and its effect on the

on ice performance of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Do you think, and you play in Vancouver, a Canadian hockey market, you guys have a ton of coverage from the local media, how does the media affect what you guys do on the ice if at all? I don't know, I don't want to get in trouble with you guys. Go ahead, no one's listening. It can be hard sometimes for sure. We are people at the end of the day. And I know we're in a position where there is a lot that's asked from us. And part of being a pro hockey player is learning to deal with the media, especially when you're in these bigger you know, bigger markets with, with kind of thicker media around us. But, you know, everyone's got a job to do, whether it's us or you guys.

I think at the end of the day, as long as, you know, the media is coming to us with, you know, respectful intentions, there's not a lot of hostility. Obviously, sometimes those lines get crossed and, but that's crossed, but that's a small minority. So yeah, I mean, it's different in every market, but it's part of what makes the NHL so fun. Thatcher Demko is our guest at the Vancouver Canucks. He signed a three-year extension with the team yesterday. You've got a great tandem with Kevin Lankenen.

And everyone around the hockey world, Thatcher, would say when you're healthy you're one of the best goaltenders in the NHL but of course health has been an issue for you over the last couple of years. How are you training in the off season to prepare for the upcoming year and what do you think a realistic workload would be for you this coming season? Yeah, I mean I think you know like the injury stuff for me, I think it really started to take effect probably, you know, 12, 13 months ago.

You know, before that I had a Vezna caliber season. So, you know, I don't feel like I'm that far off from doing that again. And so it's really, you know, like I mentioned, I've been in contact with this biomechanics specialist guy that's truly helped shape my programming for my summer, kind of brought in some new ideologies and things like that. I feel really good coming out of last year healthy, finally able to have kind of a more normal summer as far as that goes without having to deal with all the rehab and stuff

that I did last summer. It's great for my body, it's great for my mind first and foremost as well. Yeah, I mean things are going in a great direction for me. I feel good, I feel happy and obviously excited to be back in Vancouver next year. Yeah, that's incredible news for the Vancouver Canucks and their fans no doubt. Thatcher Demko with us. As far as the length of the contract that you sign a three-year extension How did it come to be that number were you angling for a longer term deal? Are you maybe actually looking to capitalize on a rising salary cap in a few years? Can you take us through why three years?

Yeah, I mean I I would time 20 years in Vancouver if I could have, you know, I've always wanted to be there my whole career. Um, you know, I'm a guy that I think there's a bit of a dying breed and the guys that get drafted somewhere and like, you know, kind of want to see it through no matter what, what adversity hits. And, um, yeah, so I mean, I would have signed for a longer time. I know the team's in a position that, you know, maybe a little bit of uncertainty with, with like you said, my health last year, but we felt confident that I was going to be able

to get back to the position that I was in two years ago. And at the end of the day, if I got to sign three and then get to the end of that one and sign another one and then so be it You know I think my priority was just getting something done and making sure that I get to get more years in Vancouver If that's or another guy that's gonna be entering your situation there is a hometown guy Evander Kane Acquired into trade from the Oilers a guy who scored 300 plus NHL goals in his career What's it going to mean to

have him on board? Yeah, I think he brings a lot of versatility, you know. He's got a little bit of a grindy side to him, which I think is going to be great for our forward group. And, you know, pretty tough guy, a pretty strong guy. He can play a tough style of game, which, I said is gonna fit well with us, I think. And at the same time, like you said, he can score goals and he can produce,

which is gonna be huge for us as well. So I think there's a lot of different aspects that his game might be able to bring to our team. And I think he's gonna fit in with our group great. Well, congratulations on the new contract. We're thrilled for you and we wish you nothing but the best this summer and we look forward to seeing Thatcher Demko Vezina finalist back in 2025-2026. We appreciate your time. Yeah thanks for having me guys. All right that's

Thatcher Demko of the Connect. The biggest songs in the world. You've heard them countless times. Now learn the details of how they came to be. Join Ruby Carr for Encore, the stories behind the songs you love. New interviews and newly unearthed archive footage make for a fascinating weekly deep dive. Stream Encore, the stories behind the songs you love on iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts.