Thatcher Demko signs entry-level deal with Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks’ long wait to sign goaltender Thatcher Demko has come to an end as the Boston College product put pen to paper and inked a three-year deal on Wednesday.

This means the Canucks won’t have to endure any Jimmy Vesey-type drama had Demkos chosen to return for his senior season.

Demko, a 2016 Hobey Baker Award finalist and Mike Richter Award winner, was phenomenal for the Eagles in his junior season. He posted 10 shutouts and a .935 save percentage in 39 games, leading Boston College to a share of the Hockey East title and a Frozen Four appearance.

A second-round pick by the Canucks in 2014, the 20-year-old Demko has only improved as his young career has gone on, as Lambert noted earlier this month over at Canucks Army. Vancouver has both Ryan Miller and Jacob Markstrom signed for at least one more season. This will give Demko time to season in the AHL and be groomed as the franchise’s goalie of the future.

“Once you start facing shooters who can really rip the puck and have a fast release, there’s going to be a learning curve and he’s no different than any other goalie coming out of college,” Canucks GM Jim Benning told Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province this week.

“Ryan Miller won the Hobey Baker and turned pro and there were things he needed to do to adjust his game. All young goalies have to go through that curve. Thatcher is intense and competes hard and I’m confident he’ll be able to figure out what he needs to do."

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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