Does DeSmith finally solve the backup problem

Équipe: 2023-24 Canucks de Vancouver

Date de création initiale: 25 sept. 2023

Publié: 25 sept. 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

2019-20 season: Markstrom carried the team to a playoff spot and Demko showed his potential during the playoffs. Markstrom was a pending UFA, but if the Canucks extended him, they would have their goaltending figured out.
2020 offseason: Markstrom walks to FA and Canucks sign Braden Holtby to a 2 year contract. (To be a 1A/1B with Demko). Holtby was coming off one of his worst seasons with Washington.
2020-21 season: Holtby was terrible and Canucks finished last in the Canadian Division.
2021 offseason: Canucks buy out Holtby and bring in Jaro Halak who had lost the backup role at the end of the 2020-21 season with Boston.
2021-22 season: Canucks barely miss the playoffs and I can remember at least 2 games that Halak singlehandedly cost. Demko gets overplayed and runs out of gas at the end of the season.
2022 offseason: Canucks don't bring back Halak and don't get a new backup. They decide to have Spencer Martin to be backup. Martin played a few games for the Canucks in the 2021-22 season and looked decent.
2022-23 season: Demko's numbers tank at the beginning of the season due to him playing injured. Spencer Martin starts to outplay Demko and his numbers are respectable heading towards December (Martin was hovering around .900-905 Save %). Demko gets hurt at the beginning of December and Martin is forced into the starters role. Martin's numbers tank after Demko gets hurt and Colin Delia starts to get some starts. Delia's numbers are slightly better than Martin, but Canucks are still struggling. Arturs Silovs gets some starts and looks solid. Demko comes back in Feburary and looks better.
2023 offseason: Canucks seem destined to run a Demko/Silovs tandem until they trade Tanner Pearson for Casey DeSmith.
Casey DeSmith should finally give the Canucks a solid backup. DeSmith did play 38 games last season. Yes he did have a GAA of 3.17 but the Pens defence was not good last season. The Canucks defence isn't really any better, but those numbers are better than what Halak, Martin, and Holtby were putting up. His GAA shouldn't be 3.17 because he shouldn't be play 38 games. Unfortunately even though the Canucks probably have their best goalie tandem since before the pandemic, I still see them finishing with only 80-85 points. They just can't figure out how to start the season strong.