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Canucks: 3 goaltenders who could replace Jacob Markstrom

By Brayden Ursel

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 23: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks is pulled from the nets during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights and is replaced by Thatcher Demko #35 in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 23, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 23: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks is pulled from the nets during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights and is replaced by Thatcher Demko #35 in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 23, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, ALBERTA – AUGUST 23: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks is pulled from the nets during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights and is replaced by Thatcher Demko #35 in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 23, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA – AUGUST 23: Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Vancouver Canucks is pulled from the nets during the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights and is replaced by Thatcher Demko #35 in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 23, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /

The window for the Vancouver Canucks to re-sign Jacob Markstrom is closing more each day. Here are three goaltenders who could replace him short term.

Jacob Markstrom or not, the Vancouver Canucks will need two solid goaltenders next season.

With the way it’s looking, if and when the 2020-21 season gets underway, there will likely be several more back-to-back nights. Gary Bettman wants a full 82-game schedule, and the NHL wants it completed in short order. If Jim Benning and Markstrom can’t find common ground, the GM will still need to find a replacement.

Thatcher Demko looks to have proven he’s ready to take on more responsibility in the crease, but goalies get tired and it’ll be vital to team success to have a healthy rotation next year. At first, it was a bit of a head-scratcher, but the Montreal Canadiens got ahead of this when they traded for Jake Allen to back up Carey Price.

Here are three UFA goaltenders who Benning should consider reeling into Vancouver.

Braden Holtby

After spending 10 years in a Washington Capitals uniform, Braden Holtby is set to test the waters on the open market. With having both a tight cap situation in Washington and a young goalie on the rise, it makes sense for GM Brian MacLellan to spend his money elsewhere.

Finishing the season with a save percentage below 900 (0.897%) for the very first time, the Stanley Cup champion of 2018 has lost favour as the No. 1 guy to the 23-year-old rookie Ilya Samsonov. Despite a down year, the 31-year-old shouldn’t be counted out and will likely have a handful of teams interested in acquiring his services.

Over his entire tenure as an NHL goaltender, Holtby holds a respectable save percentage (0.916%), goals-against average (2.53) and has posted 42 shutouts. With a change of scenery, Holtby could bounce back and help an up and coming team reach the next level. With a Stanley Cup to his name, he would be a perfect mentor for Demko at the right price.

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