The Vancouver Canucks have had their share of goaltending controversies throughout recent years. There may be yet another one on the horizon.
With the Seattle expansion looming, this Vancouver Canucks goaltending controversy offers a peculiar twist. The Canucks can only protect one goaltender at the expansion draft, thus raising the question of which netminder that should be. Let’s look at the body of work and contract situations for both Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko.
Both of these factors will tie in with why I feel a one-year contract extension would be most beneficial to the Canucks organization.
Jacob Markstrom
There is no controversy when it comes to who is the Canucks’ number one goaltender. Markstrom undoubtedly has earned that distinction. With the increased consistency that he showed last season, he has clearly established himself as a bonafide number one National Hockey League goaltender. Markstrom was named the Canucks’ most valuable player last season in its fan voting end of season awards.
More from The Canuck Way
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
In each of his last two seasons, Markstrom has had a .912 save percentage. He achieved those numbers behind what can best be described as a porous defence. One that was prone to defensive zone turnovers and poorly executed zone exits.
I would expect the Canucks, with the additions of Tyler Myers, Jordie Benn and Oscar Fantenburg via free agency, for those numbers to improve significantly. A full season of Quinn Hughes alone will vastly improve the team’s transition game. The result of these personnel changes should see the Canucks spending less time in their defensive zone.
Thatcher Demko
Demko has long been tagged as the Vancouver Canucks alleged “goalie of the future”, by fans and media alike. Steady progression is something that Demko has showed at each level he’s played at throughout his young career. Last season he demonstrated that he is NHL ready and showed steady improvement throughout the season. Likewise, he will be a benefactor of a greatly improved defence corps.
Contracts
Markstrom is entering the final year of his contract which currently pays him just over $3.66 million, per Cap Friendly. He will unquestionably be in for a substantial pay increase with his next contract. In all likelihood, I would expect it to be in the $5.5-6 million range. Comparative deals would be the $5 million being paid to Frederik Andersen and the $6 million contract of Corey Crawford. Markstrom is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the expiration of this current contract.
Demko has two years remaining on his current deal of $1.05 million per season. However, he will be a restricted free agent at the conclusion of his existing deal. The next two seasons will be pivotal in determining what a new deal for Demko will look like.
The expansion draft
The Seattle expansion draft will take place on a yet unspecified date, in June 2021. As per the details stated on NHL.com pertaining to the draft, each team may only protect one goaltender. Although it is still two seasons away, the thought of losing either Markstrom or Demko is one that gnaws at my very soul. Canucks management have taken an earnest gamble that this team will be in playoff contention within the next two seasons.
Thus, my suggestion that a one-year deal may be the best option for Canucks management to take when it comes to an extension for Markstrom. This would allow the Canucks to protect Demko from the expansion draft.
Markstrom, if he were to accept a one-year deal, would become a free agent on July 1, 2021. This would not make him exempt from selection in the expansion draft, but would however decrease the likelihood of him being selected. This may be the best scenario for allowing the Canucks to retain the tandem going forward.
The Risk Factor
Should Markstrom agree to a new deal structured in this manner, he would be running the risk of injury. Any injury of significance could have severe implications on his next contract. For the Canucks, the risk could be that Markstrom may actually want to test the free-agent market and that they could lose him for nothing. Furthermore, if Markstrom were to have an exceptional year it may cost the club substantially more money to retain his services.
For this to be a workable solution, the two sides would need to have the parameters in place for a multi-year contract that would follow the one-year extension. Such a deal could be signed following the Seattle expansion draft and prior to Markstrom reaching UFA status. There is a strong possibility that the contract would need to be front-loaded and likely contain a non-movement clause of some description.
Those particulars, along with the working relationship that Markstrom has with both head coach Travis Green and goaltender coach Ian Clark, may be enough to convince him to agree to such a deal.