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Pavol Demitra News & Rumors

Pavol Demitra leaves Canucks, bolts to KHL
July 16
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks will be minus Pavol Demitra when the 2010-11 season kicks off in October. Demitra has signed a one-year deal to play for Yaroslavl of the KHL in Russia. The veteran of 847 NHL games played for the Canucks last season and struggled, scoring only three goals and 13 assists in 28 games. The 35-year-old native of Slovakia was hampered by shoulder problems last season, but did play for Slovakia at the Vancouver Olympics."
Motivated Demitra providing Canucks with timely power-play point option
April 25
Vancouver Province
 
"If it takes being "pissed off" with his fourth-line demotion in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal to light a competitive fire under Pavol Demitra, then maybe somebody should slag Slovakian hockey. The Vancouver Canucks winger responded to a third-line promotion Wednesday with a goal in Game 4 and then had a goal and two assists Friday in Game 5. And it wasn't just the points. Demitra was skating like he was back in the Olympics with his 10-point performance that led all scorers. And he was shooting the puck from the point harder than he ever has. He hit the post with one blast and whipped a slapper from the faceoff circle past goalie Jonathan Quick. That shoulder has obviously"
Pavol Demitra's disappearance could turn the Canucks' Cup chase into a train bound for nowhere
April 17
Vancouver Sun
 
"Among the people who think Pavol Demitra is playing great hockey are his linemates, Ryan Kesler and Mikael Samuelsson — though, frankly, their noses seemed to be growing rapidly as they testified in his defence Friday — and, of course, the folks at the SNIB. That would be the Slovakian National Institute for the Blind. The fans? The media? What do we know? "We won the game, why be negative?" bristled Kesler, who was getting a bit of a rough ride from the radio crowd on Friday morning (though players never listen to the radio) for having been mostly invisible in the Vancouver Canucks' 3-2 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Kings the night before. No one seemed to be pointing out that,"
Pavol Demitra looks to make amends for woeful regular season
April 14
Vancouver Sun
 
"It has been the most forgettable of seasons for veteran Vancouver Canucks forward Pavol Demitra. He was knocked out of last spring's playoffs with a serious shoulder injury that required major surgery. He was unable to start on time in October, had a setback during rehab and needed a second surgery to set things right. He missed the Canucks' first 47 games and then missed another three before the Olympics due to an illness to wife Maria. Her illness, which was heart-related and extremely serious, flared up again in March and Demitra missed an additional four games. His regular season was a virtual write-off. He made just 28 appearances and scored three goals. The Canucks paid him $4"
Canucks' Demitra back on the ice after wife's terrifying health scare
April 2
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra skated on his own Wednesday morning, but it was tough to find his stride with heavy legs and a heavy heart. A day after test results revealed that his wife, Maria, is on the road to recovery after another medical scare, the exhausted Vancouver Canucks winger revealed what it was like to deal with that uncertainty while missing sleep and the last four NHL games. "We had 911 on the speed dial and she was in the hospital a couple of times," said Demitra. "Obviously when you have to call 911, you're very scared." While Demitra wouldn't provide ailment details, his wife was also hospitalized in early February with a reaction to a prescription that initially looked like she may"
Canucks' Pavol Demitra rejoins team as ill wife 'out of danger'
April 1
Vancouver Sun
 
"Pavol Demitra was so concerned about his wife Maria's health the last two weeks that he had 911 on speed dial and said he couldn't get a moment's sleep. The veteran Vancouver Canucks forward returned to the team Wednesday after test results showed his wife was out of danger. Demitra would not disclose the exact nature of the illness but did say it was a recurrence of issues she had prior to the Olympics. At the time, it was reported she had a bad reaction related to a prescription drug, perhaps due to a heart condition. Maria is 34 and never had any health issues prior to these recent episodes. "I think it was very tough and very hard on my family," said the 35-year-old Slovak. "Obviously"
Samuelsson getting close, Demitra's return is anyone's guess
March 30
Vancouver Sun
 
"The status of injured winger Mikael Samuelsson has been upgraded to day to day. The Vancouver Canucks wish they could say the same thing about Pavol Demitra. Samuelsson, who suffered a right shoulder injury on March 16, skated for the first time with his teammates on Monday. He won't play Tuesda against the Phoenix Coyotes, but will accompany the team on its two-game trip to Southern California later this week. "He is getting better and better so I think we'll have him go on the trip, he can take the morning skates with us in LA and Anaheim and hopefully in the next little while he will be ready to go," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault. "I don't expect him to play on the road, but"
Pavol Demitra on personal leave again
March 23
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks have played 50 games without veteran forward Pavol Demitra and they will again tonight in Edmonton. Demitra was not at practice Monday and head coach Alain Vigneault explained that his absence was due to a personal matter. Prior to the Olympic break, Demitra missed three games when his wife was ill. "He's gone on personal reasons," Vigneault said. "I'm not quite sure when he'll be back. I know for sure he's not playing [against Edmonton] but after that I couldn't tell you. It's personal." Demitra, 35, missed the first three and a half months of the season due to major shoulder surgery and complications during recovery. He's appeared in 22 games for the Canucks and has"
A productive Demitra could be better than any deadline deal
March 3
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks haven't yet made a trade deadline deal, but feel they have already picked up a valuable addition they hope can help carry them on a Stanley Cup playoff run. Perhaps you have heard of him. His name is Pavol Demitra. The 35-year-old Slovak, who led the Olympic tournament in scoring, seems to be rounding into the offensive threat the Canucks envisioned after recovering from a serious shoulder injury that has limited him to 12 games this season. Playing with new linemates Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond, Demitra scored a second-period power-play goal and had what coach Alain Vigenault said was his best game of the season in Vancouver's 4-3 overtime win Tuesday night over"
Demitra to join Kesler line
March 2
Vancouver Province
 
"Alain Vigneault started Pavol Demitra on the fourth line the last time the Canucks played, but the Slovak and leading Olympic scorer will be on the second line Tuesday night against Columbus. "Pavol was out for so long, we were just trying to get him to find his timing and his rhythm," the coach said after the depleted Canucks practiced at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Monday afternoon. "But if he's going to help our team, he's a top-two-line player, without a doubt." Demitra missed the first 47 games of the season recovering from shoulder surgeries and complications, then left the club on its pre-Olympics road trip after his wife was hospitalized, returning to play in the final game of"
Slovaks confident of bronze medal
February 27
Toronto Sun
 
"Forward Pavol Demitra, who came within inches of tying Friday night's game against Canada in the Olympic Games semifinal, is confident his squad will be able to regroup, recover and play even better against Finland for the bronze medal Saturday. "For sure. Somehow we always play our best game the second game in a row," said Demitra, who just missed scoring the tying goal with 10 seconds left in a 3-2 loss to Canada. "I think what happened (Friday) is good for our next game. We want third. We work hard and we never give up, and that says a lot about our team." Demitra, who has two goals and five assists in six games at the Olympics, said the Slovaks gave Canada a little too much respect"
Slovakia's win is one for the ages; to play Canada in Semi-Final
February 25
NHL.com
 
"Pavol Demitra called it the biggest win in Slovakia's ice hockey history and it's hard to disagree with him. Hours after Canada steamrolled the Russians here at Canada Hockey Place to earn a berth in the semifinals, Slovakia stunned Sweden, 4-3, winning the right to try to take down the big bad Canadians on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET. No matter the outcome, the Slovaks have already had their best Olympics ever. Their previous best was four years ago in Torino when they finished fifth after coming in 13th at Salt Lake in 2002. "We've got nothing to lose," Tomas Kopecky, who scored the winning goal with 10:59 left in the third period, told NHL.com. "They are the favorites. We're just going"
Demitra to play Sunday
February 13
Vancouver Province
 
"The plan was for Pavol Demitra to suit up Friday night against Columbus, but since he hadn't skated prior to Friday morning's warm-up since last Saturday against Boston, Alain Vigneault decided not to dress him against the Blue Jackets. "I talked to Pavol at lunch and he said he felt good after the morning skate, but last time he was in a game was [six days prior]," Vigneault said after the Canucks came back to beat Columbus 4-3 at Nationwide Arena. "Especially a guy who's been out as long as Pavol has, you've got to give him at least one practice with the team.""
Family health issue summoned Demitra home
February 10
Vancouver Province
 
"With Pavol Demitra back in Vancouver to deal with a health emergency in his family, Steve Bernier gets out of the doghouse tonight and will play on the third line, leaving Jannik Hansen to sit out as a healthy scratch. Brad Lukowich also looks to draw in, leaving Nolan Baumgartner as a scratch against the Lightning for tonight's game. Mikael Samuelsson, demoted to the third line on Saturday at Boston before being promoted to the first, is back starting on the second line, with Alex Burrows again skating with the Sedins."
Demitra bolts before Bolts tilt
February 9
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra has left the Canucks. Demitra was a no-show at Canucks practice today in advance of Tuesday's tilt against the Lightning in Tampa.. The team said he had returned to Vancouver for personal reasons but declined to say what they were. It is also not known if Demitra will rejoin the Canucks prior to the Olympic break."
Demitra out of the lineup, again
February 9
Vancouver Sun
 
"Just when it looked like Pavol Demitra was finally back, he is gone again. Demitra left the Canucks Monday afternoon and returned to Vancouver to deal with what the team is calling a personal matter. "He has a personal matter that he had to take care of so he flew back to Vancouver this afternoon," coach Alain Vigneault said after his team's practice here. Vigneault said he does not know whether Demitra will be back for any of the four remaining games of the Canucks' eight-game road trip. The team would not make any further comment on Demitra, who is scheduled to play for Slovakia at the Winter Olympics. Demitra, who had missed most of the season with a serious shoulder injury, had his"
Demitra has to shoulder production load for third line
February 5
Vancouver Province
 
"When it comes to Pavol Demitra, the Vancouver Canucks are preaching patience. They don't have a choice. Barring a trade or a minor Cody Hodgson miracle, Demitra represents the great third-line hope. By now, any fan or opponent can pinpoint the Canucks' Achilles heel. It's a six-pack of trouble masked as third and fourth lines. For the most part, what you see is what you get. Steve Bernier has regressed to the point where you hope he's injured. At least that would explain some things. Ryan Johnson has the worst even-strength shot differential in the NHL. Darcy Hordichuk is fourth worst. Kyle Wellwood had 18 goals last year, but might need 18 years to match it. Tanner Glass threatens to be"
Demitra has to shoulder production load for third line
February 4
Vancouver Province
 
"When it comes to Pavol Demitra, the Vancouver Canucks are preaching patience. They don't have a choice. Barring a trade or a minor Cody Hodgson miracle, Demitra represents the great third-line hope. By now, any fan or opponent can pinpoint the Canucks' Achilles heel. It's a six-pack of trouble masked as third and fourth lines. For the most part, what you see is what you get. Steve Bernier has regressed to the point where you hope he's injured. At least that would explain some things. Ryan Johnson has the worst even-strength shot differential in the NHL. Darcy Hordichuk is fourth worst. Kyle Wellwood had 18 goals last year, but might need 18 years to match it. Tanner Glass threatens to be"
Pavol Demitra's offensive production much ado about nothing
January 30
Vancouver Sun
 
"Pavol Demitra and Kyle Wellwood have been mostly pointless. And if this continues, coach Alain Vigneault will feel the same way about playing them. The Vancouver Canucks' struggling third-liners have just one goal and one assist between them in six games since Demitra returned from shoulder surgery after missing eight months. The good news is the Canucks have won all six games because they're getting plenty of goals from the top two lines. "We're trying," Vigneault said Friday of the third-line problems. "If ever they could play up to their potential, we'd have three pretty balanced lines there. That third period they played last game, I thought they were good. Hopefully, that's a start.""
Canuck Pavol Demitra eager to 'Pen' perfect comeback
January 16
Vancouver Sun
 
"The Vancouver Canucks are hoping to get two players back for the price of one Saturday night. When Pavol Demitra returns to play his first game in more than eight months against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m., CBC, Team 1040), he will skate on Vancouver's third line with centre Kyle Wellwood. Wellwood, whose offensive game has been missing just about as long as Demitra, was understandably more than a little pleased to have the 35-year-old Slovakian skating with him at Friday's practice. "For me, you definitely look at a player's skill set," Wellwood said after practice. "The majority of the year playing with guys like (Tanner) Glass and (Steve) Bernier, we know what our job is out there."
Demitra expected to return Saturday, thanks to 'magic' physiotherapist
January 16
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra's body is spotted with bruises. He believes they are why his shoulder finally feels good enough to play. That's expected to happen against Pittsburgh Saturday, his first game in nine months. Demitra gave the Canucks the thumbs-up Thursday and now needs to be medically cleared after Saturday's morning skate. It's expected to be a formality. He will play on a line with Kyle Wellwood. It's unclear who will play wing with the pair as Steve Bernier remains out with a groin injury. It's been a long road to recovery for Demitra, who had one shoulder surgery in May to repair his rotator cuff. Then, another surgery in the fall because things weren't healing. That was followed by an"
Demitra, Johnson close to returning
January 13
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra and Ryan Johnson took part in the Canucks full practice Tuesday evening at St. Paul. Neither will dress against the Wild in Wednesday's game, but coach Alain Vigneault said he sees progress in each as Demitra nears the end of almost eight months of rehab following shoulder surgery and Johnson heals from a couple of hairline fractures in his foot."
Demitra snaps away in first full practice, says his return 'still a couple of weeks away'
January 5
Vancouver Sun
 
"Pavol Demitra called Monday a good day and there haven't been many of those over the last seven months for the Vancouver Canuck winger. Demitra skated with his teammates for the first time in practice Monday and was snapping wrist shots with authority. He said his left shoulder, which was injured in the second round of last spring's playoffs on a hit by Chicago defenceman Brian Campbell, is feeling much better. "I'm just happy my shooting is almost back to normal," he said. "I am not shooting slap shots yet, but the wrist shot is feeling good." Demitra still is not taking contact and estimated that he might be ready to play his first game of the season in about two weeks. "I think I am"
Rangers interested in Demitra
December 6
Toronto Sun
 
"Desperate to make the playoffs, the New York Rangers are beating the bushes trying to find a top-six forward. While the Rangers would prefer to bring in a centre, league sources told Sun Media yesterday that general manager Glen Sather is so desperate to find help up front, the club has investigated the possibility of acquiring injured Vancouver Canucks winger Pavol Demitra once he gets healthy. Recovering from shoulder surgery he had in the off-season, Demitra, who can be explosive, might look good on a line with winger Marian Gaborik. The Rangers started off the season strong, but they've looked so-so lately and the indications are Sather wants to ignite the team. Gaborik and Demitra are"
Injured $4-million man Pavol Demitra eager to prove worth
November 24
Vancouver Province
 
"The forgotten man is easy to spot in the bowels of GM Place. He's the one wearing a designer suit while his colleagues are clad in battle gear. He's the one with an understandably dour demeanour while his teammates revel in the rigours of competition. In being relegated to spectator status following offseason shoulder surgery — and a second procedure on two torn rotator cuffs a month ago that curtailed his comeback — it's easy to conclude that a recent post-operation infection may have been the final stab at sanity that killed Pavol Demitra's spirit. Easy to conclude that the physical and mental drain of subsequent setbacks might be too devastating for the speedy Slovak to overcome in what"
Pavol Demitra has tendinitis in his shoulder. No ETA for a return to Canucks
October 16
Vancouver Province
 
"he Canucks revealed Thursday why Pavol Demitra has been slow to recover from offseason shoulder surgery. Despite having had a medical procedure in May to repair tears to the front and back of his rotator cuff, Demitra remains out indefinitely. He hasn't been skating with the team and complained to The Province this week that there's "a lot of pain in the shoulder." Head coach Alain Vigneault revealed Thursday the pain is from shoulder tendinitis, which means there is inflammation of the rotator cuff tendon. "He got another injection a couple of days ago to relieve the tendinitis," Vigneault said. "That's what's slowing this down a little bit.""
Demitra's rehab from shoulder surgery is not going well
October 13
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra hopped up the GM Place steps on one foot Sunday morning. If the hobbled Vancouver Canucks winger was recovering from a knee or ankle injury, this would be a positive development. It's not. Demitra has been slow to recover from offseason shoulder surgery to repair tears to the front and back of his rotator cuff. He suffered the ailment while checking defenceman Brian Campbell into the end boards during Game 2 of the Western Conference semfinal series against the Chicago Blackhawks. "Obviously, it's not getting better," said Demitra."
Demitra crushed by shoulder injury
September 10
Vancouver Province
 
"Pavol Demitra will soon be 35 years old and although he may have replaced Markus Naslund on Vancouver's whipping post, he isn't ready to follow the former Canucks captain into retirement. "I feel I have a lot of hockey left in me -- I feel great," Demitra said. "Everywhere is great. Everywhere but my shoulder." It's the shoulder he ripped apart while trying to prove something to someone back in the second round of the playoffs when, out of character, he took a long run and exploded at full speed into Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Brian Campbell. The injury hasn't exactly anguished Canucks fans and followers, even after Demitra revealed Tuesday he will miss the start of the NHL season and"
Canuck Pavol Demitra to miss start of regular season
September 9
Vancouver Sun
 
"Vancouver Canucks forward Pavol Demitra, who had major off-season shoulder surgery will not be ready to start the regular season, he said Tuesday. "They told me six more weeks to go, but I am shooting for the middle of October," Demitra said. "Day-by-day it's getting better. You never know.""