Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko skates at practice, talks progress

Vancouver Canucks star goaltender Thatcher Demko appears to be inching closer to a return.

Demko was on the ice for Canucks practice on Wednesday and took some live reps.

“I feel really good,” he told reporters afterward. “This is the best I’ve felt in seven, eight months. I finally see a little light at the end of tunnel, for sure, and have a lot of direction in what we’re trying to accomplish.”

The two-time All-Star was placed on Vancouver’s season-opening injured non-roster while rehabbing a unique lower-body injury.

The 28-year-old didn’t suit up for the Canucks in the pre-season and his status was a top storyline throughout training camp.

Demko first suffered the injury in March and was sidelined for 14 games. He returned in time to finish out the regular season but was injured in the Canucks’ first playoff game and missed the remainder of their post-season run. He posted a 35-14-2 record with a .918 percentage, a 2.45 goals-against average and five shutouts for Vancouver last season, despite missing several weeks. 

With Demko unavailable, off-season signing Kevin Lankinen has handled the majority of the Canucks’ goaltending duties this season.