The Vancouver Canucks have placed all-star goalie Thatcher Demko on the long-term injured reserve list retroactively.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just cap related,B次元官网网址� coach Rick Tocchet said after practice Wednesday. B次元官网网址淲e get some cap relief, thatB次元官网网址檚 all it is.B次元官网网址�

The 28-year-old netminder has been considered week to week since being sidelined with a lower-body injury midway through VancouverB次元官网网址檚 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 9.

That injury designation hasnB次元官网网址檛 changed, Tocchet said.

Demko boasts a 34-18-2 record this season, with a .917 save percentage, a 2.47 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Casey DeSmith has taken over the starting job for Vancouver, going 3-2-1 since DemkoB次元官网网址檚 injury. He has a .899 save percentage on the season with a 2.73 goals-against average and one shutout.

The earliest Demko could be back in the CanucksB次元官网网址� lineup is April 6 against the Kings in Los Angeles.

HeB次元官网网址檚 expected to be a key piece as Vancouver (45-19-8) prepares for its first playoff appearance since the COVID-shortened 2019-20 campaign.

Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin also announced Wednesday that the club has called up forward Arshdeep Bains from the Abbotsford Canucks of the American Hockey League.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 like to see where (Bains is) at,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said, noting he isnB次元官网网址檛 sure whether the 23-year-old winger will slot into the lineup when the Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Thursday.

Bains played five games for the NHL team in February before being sent back to Abbotsford.

B次元官网网址淗e went down, heB次元官网网址檚 done a couple of things that we like, and heB次元官网网址檚 got some speed,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said.

Vancouver may get another forward back in the lineup Thursday.

Dakota Joshua practised in a full-contact jersey on Wednesday for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 4-2 win over the Blackhawks in Chicago on Feb. 13.

The physical winger, whoB次元官网网址檚 set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has a career-high 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) this season.

Sitting out injured B次元官网网址渉asnB次元官网网址檛 been fun,B次元官网网址� Joshua said.

B次元官网网址淚t feels like forever,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut at this point, thatB次元官网网址檚 behind me and IB次元官网网址檓 moving forward.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO: