Seravalli: It took a conversation with a resolute Rick Tocchet to calm down Demko, who was in tears, and provide proper perspective. Tocchet’s message was simple: “Your season isn’t over. We’re going to need you, because we’re still going to be playing when you’re ready again.”
by gangstarapmademe
21 Comments
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/how-thatcher-demko-helped-prepare-casey-desmith-to-carry-the-mail-for-the-vancouver-canucks great article / read about DeSmith and Demko behind the scenes following the injury news
Demko hurt himself in the last minute of game 1? Oh man that hurts my soul.
Tocchet is a fuckin BEAUT of a coach
I feel the older I get, and the more I mature on an emotional level, the more feels I get when hearing about these kinds of situations. I’ve never cried this many times in any other year of following hockey. I feel it’s also cause I’m at a point where I’m finally ready to process a lot of repressed emotions around 2011. ☹️
I would run through a wall for Tocchet
I need a Tocchet in my life
I really like Tocchet approach to every situation in the playoffs so far. Most coaches we hear from always say the same thing “star players have to be your star players” and “we can’t talk about officiating but I’m unhappy” in between games.
Tocchet seems like one of the few coaches who actually helps his players prepare as best they can for the mental aspect of the playoffs with little things like this that can go a long way.
2011 team was great but it had years of playoff heartbreak to gain the resiliency it did, and even then they almost choked a 3-0 series lead.
Tocchet seems to have his team dialed in to embrace the adversity and momentum swings a playoff series can bring. We went from 1-0, Demko is great, we got this, to our backup is in, we lose, we’re boned, to coming up with a reverse uno card performance on the road after Casey and co flobbed game 2.
And the team will continue to grow. Success on winning the cup or not, this team is growing more than the sum of its part in the regular season already. If they can keep this up and get to the second round, I consider the season overall to be a complete success in a step forward.
It’s a blessing that Toch already dealt with a similar situation during the Pens’ Cup wins a few years ago.
Coach Rick gentle parenting all of us. His communication skills are a gift.
A freak injury in the last minute of G1 is fucking brutal. Damn that’s super unlucky. Hate to see Demko in shambles after that but wow, Tocchet and the coaching staff are absolute beasts.
Win or lose, I love this roster and the coaching staff.
This is amazing. Imagine being one of the other players reading this. “Let’s keep winning long enough until he’s back. Do it for Demko!!!”
I’m gonna cry
Tocchet is what this team needed. I will admit I was a little nervous when I heard he was coming in but man was I wrong, completely wrong.
He seems to be a very level headed respectful coach that has rallied the entire staff around the team and it shows.
I have never in my life been more confused about an injury than I am with Demko.
From day to day, to week to week, to done for the season, back to week to week, different injury, same knee, torn ACL, no tear, surgery, no surgery, just rest.
I do hope it’s mostly “minor” and if there’s any reporter you’re going to trust in this it should be Friedman. Hopefully he’s back and 100% healthy.
Ahhhh I was good till I read.
“They became fathers for the first time within weeks of each other. And their wives and babies are now close. That has only helped support their on-ice relationship, where DeSmith has picked up for Demko twice now for extended runs after injury.”
This f’ed me up just having a kid myself lol
Tocchet is probably a great dad
Jack Adams candidate and frankly winner in one year. What a stand up guy toccs is
We gonna build a Rick Tocchet statue aren’t we?
#DoItForDemko
Would be so fucking legendary if we actually did keep on winning until Demko is back healthy. I’m a fan forever, win or lose
Tocchet…that calming voice when you’re in a storm.