It’s not a story the Vancouver Canucks needed.

They’ve faced a slew of injuries already this season, and now Thatcher Demko’s absence from practice loomed large.

Adam Foote tried to provide an update on Demko after practice.

“We had a conversation with him to take care of himself, and know, in a condensed schedule, when he feels he needs a little bit of time off, that’s what he’s doing,” Foote explained.

“I don’t want to say words that you people don’t like, like maintenance, or anything.”

When asked specifically if Demko was injured, Foote said no.

“I had back surgery in my second year pro, okay? As my career went on… I had to be responsible when I go to the coaches, when to take a day,” Foote said.

“That’s all. He’s got to take care of himself. I respect that he’s going to take care of making sure that, in a condensed schedule, we’ve got him at his best.”

Foote acknowledged that missing practice isn’t easy for Demko.

“He’s such a great leader that he doesn’t want to ever miss a day,” he said.

“Even [Demko’s] teammates in the summer, in the leadership meetings, are like, ‘Demmer, you’ve got to know when to take care of you in a certain situation.’ And he’s doing what we’ve asked him.”

After the update, it’s still unclear if Demko will be available this weekend.

“We’re going to go with this thing as we wake up every morning,” Foote said. “That’s just the way I approach things.”

The Canucks play back-to-back games this weekend, against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, followed by the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

So, could Kevin Lankinen be in a situation where he has to play back-to-back games?

“If he has to, he has to,” Foote said. “We’re not there yet.”

The Canucks recalled goaltender Jiri Patera under emergency conditions on Friday, but he didn’t arrive at the rink in time for practice.

Patera has a 1-2-1 record with an .894 save percentage so far this season in Abbotsford. He’s played eight career NHL games, all with the Vegas Golden Knights. The 26-year-old has a 3-3-1 record in those games with a .902 save percentage.

With Demko missing in action and Patera not at the rink, there was a mystery goalie at Canucks practice on Friday alongside Lankinen.

Ben Lykpa of the Abbotsford News revealed that the mystery goalie was mortgage broker Alex Kotai.

According to Lykpa, Kotai was used in the past by the Abbotsford Canucks as a practice goalie.

So far this season, Demko has looked like his old self, with a 5-4 record and a .911 save percentage. He ranks fourth among NHL starters in terms of goals saved above expected, behind only Logan Thompson, Spencer Knight, and Connor Hellebuyck.

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