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NHL·INJURY·September 16, 2026 07:46 PM ET

Demko won't be full camp participant; Lankinen may carry Canucks early

Opening-night goalie plans look less settled.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 161 min read
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With the news that Thatcher Demko won't be a full participant at camp, it seems likely that Kevin Lankinen could again b Via @Sportsnet on X

What happened: Thatcher Demko won't be a full participant when Vancouver opens camp, putting the club's crease plan under immediate focus. Kevin Lankinen could wind up handling a heavier share of the work if those limits carry into the start of the season.

Why it matters: The Canucks already moved to add depth in net when they gave Chris Driedger a PTO in late August, a sign the position remains unsettled entering camp. Any restriction on Demko raises the stakes on early practices and preseason usage as Vancouver sorts its opening tandem.

What to watch: Watch for whether Demko's workload expands once on-ice sessions begin. Vancouver's first preseason goalie rotation should offer the clearest read on how much work Lankinen is set to carry into October.

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NHLInjuryVancouver CanucksKevin LankinenThatcher Demko
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