A Winning Habit
Fansided

Montreal Canadiens: Ranking The Canadian Division’s Goaltenders

By Ken MacMillan

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 12: Carey Price Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 12: Carey Price Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 4: Thatcher Demko (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – JANUARY 4: Thatcher Demko (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Thatcher Demko and Braden Holtby

Thatcher Demko and Braden Holtby could both have excellent NHL careers by the time they each retire. The problem for the 2021 Vancouver Canucks is Demko’s best years are well into the future and Holtby’s best hockey is well in the past.

Demko is a 25 year old who has paid his dues in the college ranks and American Hockey League. He looked great in those leagues, but struggled in his first NHL campaign. As the team’s backup to Jacob Markstrom last season, Demko played 27 games and finished with a 3.06 GAA and a .902 SV%.

He had four excellent starts against the Vegas Golden Knights in the postseason, but it will be difficult to replicate his 0.64 GAA and .985 SV% from the Edmonton bubble.

He has terrific pedigree as a former goaltender of the year in NCAA and he played in an AHL All-Star Game. However, he didn’t look great at the NHL level in last year’s regular season. He can probably outplay Matt Murray and stay on par with Mikko Koskinen, but the rest of the starters in the Canadian Division are a step above Demko.

Holtby is a big name in the NHL. He has won the Vezina Trophy and a Stanley Cup but those days appear to be in the past. He has barely kept his GAA below three over the past three seasons and just isn’t going to be contending for any more Vezina Trophy’s. He will prove to be a great mentor for Demko, and that will help the young goalie in the future.

However, it isn’t quite time for Demko to carry his team and the time for Holtby to be a number one guy is in the past.

Home/Editorials