Canucks, Rick Tocchet

Simmer’s Sunday 9: Canucks Streak, Demko Mystery

The Vancouver Canucks have won four games in a row and presently have the 5th best winning percentage in the Western Conference. That’s the number that matters most since Vancouver has played less games than the teams they trail in the Pacific Division.

The loaded Vegas Golden Knights have the best percentage in the division, .722, compared to Vancouver’s .714 with two less games played. The Canucks are only three points out of first place.

Let’s hit the 9:

1) Who else sits ahead of Vancouver at the moment, albeit with a lower percentage in nine games played? That would be the pesky and consistent Los Angeles Kings. See why they’re pesky and consistent in our brief conversation with Hockey Hall of Fame recognized broadcaster Nick Nickson just a few days ago. The Kings just keep on, keeping on …

2) The latest speculation from Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman has Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko returning to action in “mid-November”. There was some contemplative hesitation in his voice when he made that prediction.

Until something concrete is announced, there is no reason to get overly optimistic. Since we learned from NHL goalie reporter Kevin Woodley in late September that Demko is suffering a very rare problem with the popliteus muscle in the back of his knee, we haven’t really heard a whole lot of encouraging news.

He was on the ice in a suit for Tyler Myers’s 1,000th NHL game ceremony prior to Saturday night’s match.

3) You gotta love the couple that stood behind Myers during his entire visit on HNIC’s After Hours segment on Saturday night. The man stared straight ahead while the young lady simply couldn’t wipe the grin off her face as she enjoyed the conversation.

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4) He’s been such an excellent analyst and such a mainstay on hockey television in Canada, it seems a bit hard to believe that the Penguins at Canucks game was Ray Ferraro’s first official telecast with HNIC.

The longtime TSNer and ESPNer and now Vancouver TV analyst ended up with his first crack at it on Saturday night and as usual he was very good.

It was a delight to work with him and to hear him live in my ifb (ear bud) 11 years ago while working a World Juniors tournament in Russia with TSN. A great guy, and for the younger fans who likely aren’t familiar, a prolific goal scorer.

5) The Winnipeg Jets are 8-and-0 to start the season, two wins away from tying the all-time NHL record for winning streaks to start a season. They would need to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs at home on Monday and the Detroit Red Wings on the road on Wednesday to get there.

They don’t see the Canucks this season until January 14th in Winnipeg.

6) Congratulations to Surrey native Arshdeep Bains, the fourth Punjabi player in history to make the big show, on scoring his first NHL goal against the Penguins.

Bains, undrafted into the WHL where he played five seasons for the Red Deer Rebels, and undrafted into the NHL as well, played eight games for Vancouver last season without recording a point. It’s his first point in four games this season.

7) “His game’s growing, he’s working on his game,” Vancouver head coach Rick Tocchet said of Bains postgame. He sees the 23-year-old moving up and down the line-up and appreciates his speed and improved checking ability.

8) Before the season, we predicted the Canucks would win the Stanley Cup in 2025.

9) Check out a variety of Pacific Division interviews and presentations with our “Krackin’ Canuckleheads” podcast at https://www.youtube.com/@simmerpuck

You can also follow us on twitter/X @simmerpuck.

Earlier Canucks:

— Canucks Face Their Russian Exes

— Vancouver’s Sportsnet analyst Dave Tomlinson as a guest just prior to the season. See what’s panned out thus far …

Rob Simpson

Rob Simpson has covered the NHL in five different decades. He’s authored 4 books on hockey and is a veteran TV and radio play-by-play man and reporter.
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