More From Prospects
Last year was a good year for goaltenders in the NHL Draft. A total of five were selected in the second round, four of them in the top 40 — including the Vancouver Canucks’ choice, Thatcher Demko. He was widely regarded as the best player of the bunch, but had one minor issue: his hip.
Ever since he was 15, Demko felt pain in his hip, which obviously hinders hockey goalies in their flexibility and butterfly ability. Heading into the draft, it was clear that he would need hip surgery soon after.