Vancouver Canucks season preview: The Goaltenders

With training camp just weeks away, let’s take a look at what the Vancouver Canucks will look like at each position to start 2019-20. First up is the goaltenders.

The Vancouver Canucks‘ goaltending situation looks a lot better than it did just a year ago. Anders Nilsson was signed as a free agent in the 2017 offseason by the Canucks in order to provide some healthy competition for the team’s starting job. It was between Jacob Markstrom and Nilsson, and the Canucks were hoping that the signing would drive both goaltenders to play some of the best hockey of their careers.

Unfortunately, neither goaltender could remain consistent, but both showed flashes of greatness. Nilsson and Markstrom enjoyed some hot streaks, but the problem was that neither goaltender could stay on said hot streak for long. This led to wildly inconsistent goaltending overall for the Canucks, but that problem will almost certainly be solved this season.

Goaltender of the future, Thatcher Demko, is finally ready to serve as the Canucks’ backup for a full season. Demko got some reps last season and looked as though he was improving with each start. There may be some healthy competition for the starting job as Demko looks to prove he’s ready to be this team’s everyday starter.

For now, however, this is still Markstrom’s team; after all, he was voted MVP by the fans for last season’s team awards. Many people believe that Markstrom’s improved level of play is sustainable, due to Canucks’ goaltending coach Ian Clark’s coaching techniques and philosophies he instills into his goaltenders, which he explained to the late Jason Botchford back in April:

"“I tell them to think of it like a skyscraper with no top. Ok, we just climbed that flight of stairs up, now let’s turn the bend and do another. And another. And we’re never going to stop.”"

On top of having good coaching for their goaltenders, the Canucks also have more depth than they did last season. Zane McIntyre was signed to play in the minors and will almost certainly be the first goaltender called up in the case of an injury to a goaltender with the big club.

Jake Kielly was signed late last season out of Clarkson University, and at 22 years old, there’s no telling where his ceiling is at. What we do know is that he is yet another goaltender that adds to the Canucks depth, which will help them avoid disastrous situations like the one Michael DiPietro fell victim to last season.

When it comes to goaltending, the Canucks will have one of their best tandems in years in 2019-20. There will be lots to watch for, including the progression of young goaltenders such as DiPietro and Kielly down in the minors, along with Demko with the big club. Will Markstrom be able to keep his starting job and maintain his improved level of play? We’ll soon find out.