Thatcher Demko hailed a better goaltender than Roberto Luongo by ex-Canucks coach

By ARJUN B

Modified Aug 13, 2024 13:02 GMT

Former Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau made a bold claim recently when comparing current Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko to legendary netminder Roberto Luongo.

In an interview with NHL Network on Monday, Boudreau praised Demko and compared him with Luongo:

"I think he's amazing.I was thinking about it once we got this list out. He's probably the best goalie I've ever had the luxury of coaching, even though I coached Roberto Luongo in his rookie season. But with Thatcher, yeah, when I went to Vancouver, like he was Mr. Everything for us."

The coach believes if not for injuries, Demko could have won the Vezina Trophy and would be higher on the list of the game's elite netminders.

"And then the injury started piling up. He had surgery that summer, and started slow, then got hurt again, and then he got hurt again last year. If he can stay healthy, his side-to-side play..." Boudreau said.

"Like, I mean, he's a big goalie, so his legs are as good as any goalies I've ever seen. I mean, his quickness in the net, he kept us in so many games. Like, I just think he's a fabulous goaltender, and if he hadn't gotten hurt, there's a good chance he would have won the Vezina."

In 19 seasons, Luongo amassed 489 wins and posted a career .919 save percentage across over 1,000 games. The Montreal, Quebec, native is widely considered one of the best goaltenders of his era.

Yet Boudreau sees even greater potential in Demko:

“But if he stays healthy this year, I expect him to be in the top three or four next year, and that's really impressive to say about Demko, who is going to be 28 when the NHL season starts."

Demko has played just 219 NHL games but has impressed in that limited opportunity. This past season, Demko recorded a 35-14-2 record along with a .918 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average.

NHL fans react to Bruce Boudreau's comments on Thatcher Demko

NHL fans have reacted strongly to comments from Boudreau about Vancouver Canucks goaltender Demko.

One fan agreed with Boudreau's comments, saying:

"lol, he was always on the vezina radar, there was no storming..

Another fan points out:

"It would be cool if forwards stopped crashing into him."

Here are some more fan reactions:

"Just stay healthy Thatcher. I’m dying to see him in the playoffs more, all he’s done is put up a .970+ in his small sample size of playoff experience. I feel he could be a conn smythe guy considering how clutch he is" one fan wrote on X.

"He's a goalie that can carry a team to the finals. Guaranteed, He got the Jackets to openly admit they were rattled and couldn't get anything by him." another fan wrote.

"6 is sort of okay. Fingers cross Demko will be in the top 3 or top 5. a user wrote.

".974 in the playoffs is ridiculous". another user commented.

The fans' comments highlight the high regard many hold for Demko's abilities between the pipes.