NHL Rumors: Thatcher Demko denies trade request, and is Timo Meier Metro bound?
Anthony Scultore
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The Trade Deadline is fast approaching to fuel NHL Rumors and Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko made it clear he didn’t asked to be moved
“It’s frustrating for me. I’m not even here to defend myself and I see that stuff start popping up, but it’s not true. I’ll say that point blank,” Demko stated. “I’ve seen a few things floating around but I’ve never said that. Not even to my wife or anyone close to my circle. I have no idea where that started.”
Thatcher Demko on the block?
The Vancouver Canucks are basically open to moving a lot of their players not named Elias Pettersson or Quinn Hughes.
Demko, 27, is still out on IR and is expected to be back soon. He has three years remaining on his contract that comes with an AAV of $5 million. This has the rumor mill speculating that any team needing a goaltender could very well be in the market for him, including division rival Los Angeles Kings.
This season, Demko has a record reflective of the Canucks struggles at 3-10-2 with a GAA of 3.93 and a .883 save percentage. Of course, teams know he’s capable, as he posted an excellent mark of 33-22-7, a 2.72 GAA, to go along with a .915 save percentage in 2021-22.
Timo Meier Metro Bound?
San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier is one of the top trade targets out there. He’s been attached to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers just to name a few.
Personally, I think there’s only a 50/50 chance he gets traded by March 3 because he’s an RFA in July. The Sharks could easily qualify him and move him at the next trade deadline with the salary cap expected to go up $4 million in 2024-25. That cap jump will allow more teams to get involved in the sweepstakes for then pending UFA.
However, if he does get dealt this season, the New Jersey Devils make the most sense. Another team that appears to be in the mix are the Carolina Hurricanes.
“There have been more talks in the last 48 hours between the Devils and the Sharks – they would want an extension to be part of this trade, they want to sign Meier as part of this,” Pierre LeBrun said on TSN’s Insider Trading. “The Carolina Hurricanes, another team that has had talks with the Sharks in the last couple of days, they’re a bit more open-minded I’m told, and they could make this trade without even talking to Lemieux or without even worrying about an extension at this point.”
At this time, the Hurricanes are are just three points up on the Devils for first place in the Metro. Carolina has the cap space to do this with Max Pacioretty out. Even if they don’t land Meier, they could be trying to drive the price up on New Jersey.
Both teams are also looking to respond to the Rangers, who landed Vladimir Tarasenko in a trade last week. New York is 8 points in back of Carolina and 5 behind New Jersey at the start of play on Wednesday.
