Vancouver Canucks place goaltender Thatcher Demko on long-term injured reserve

In a corresponding move, the Canucks have called up forward Arshdeep Bains from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.

The move is retroactive to when Demko was hurt, which was on March 9, when the 28-year-old left early in the second period of a game between the Canucks and the Winnipeg Jets with an undisclosed injury. He could return as early as April 6, when Vancouver takes on the Los Angeles Kings.

Initial reports stated that Demko’s injury was not to his groin or any previous ailment. Yet, he was projected to miss only a few games. In the six games he has been out of the lineup, the Canucks have gone 3-2-1.

Even though he has been absent for over two weeks, Demko is still second in the NHL in wins (34) to Alexandar Georgiev of the New York Rangers. His .917 save percentage is tied for third among goaltenders with at least 20 starts this season.

The former Boston College star had been fairly healthy this season after missing 32 games throughout the 2022-23 campaign due to lower-bodies injuries.

Bains has played five games with Vancouver this season, making his NHL debut on Feb. 20 against the Colorado Avalanche. He has yet to record a point.

The Canucks (45-19-8) are still atop the Pacific Division, eight points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers. They are also just two points back of the New York Rangers for the best record in the NHL.