Canucks call up Jiri Patera. Is Thatcher Demko injured?
The Vancouver Canucks have recalled goaltender Jiri Patera from their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford under emergency conditions, sparking immediate concern among fans about Thatcher Demko’s status.
According to reporters Rick Dhaliwal (ChekTV) and Irfan Gaffar (RinkWide), this move is not due to an injury. Instead, it’s a planned measure related to Demko’s maintenance routine.
“We asked him this summer — we had a conversation with him — to take care of himself and know in a condensed schedule when he feels he needs a little bit of time off,” said head coach Adam Foote.
Foote’s comments suggest that Demko is sitting out for preventive reasons rather than an immediate issue. Still, some are questioning the nature of the “emergency recall,” since such a move usually requires specific conditions that simple rest doesn’t meet.
In the NHL, players occasionally miss practices for maintenance — typically minor aches or fatigue — that don’t stop them from playing games but warrant a short recovery break. A true emergency recall, however, generally implies a shortage of available players, not just load management.
Author’s Summary
The Canucks’ recall of Patera appears to be a precaution for Demko’s workload, though the emergency designation raises some procedural questions.