More often than not it’s safe to say that what you see from an NHL team through their first thirty games of the season is what you’re going to get. This year’s Canucks are approaching game 45 against Edmonton Saturday night and what we’ve seen more than halfway through this campaign is more than concerning. Coming out of seemingly nowhere last year Vancouver finished amongst the league’s best and winning their division after a decade of despair. Because of such success the expectations leading into this year were at an all time high. After getting a taste of good hockey in Vancouver, fans and players alike now had the bar raised. Despite last year’s success and a better than average start to this season, things have quickly hit a downward spiral for the club. It isn’t a cut and dry answer that can be summed up to poor play. From injuries to personal issues, we’re going to dive into where the team has gone wrong.
Let’s start with the team’s injury troubles. This was an under the skin itch proper to the start of training camp. Star goaltender Thatcher Demko who got hurt in April still was without a timeline for return as the season drew closer. With little known about the details of the injury all that was confirmed is that surgery was not an option. Not what you want to hear about your goalie that’s been out for six months. Right when it seemed like that was the only ailment for the team, news broke that breakout forward Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and would miss the first few weeks of the season. So now you’re down a goalie and down a key forward, not ideal. However the missing pieces were not obvious to the average eye and the team found their own with recently signed goaltender Kevin Lankinen. Although the wins weren’t as exciting as the previous year’s, Vancouver was getting it done and finding ways to pick up points. Just when news of Joshua and Demko’s returns were on the horizon the injury plague struck again. During a game against the rival Kings the Canucks resident Brockstar, took a high hit from Jeannot which took him out of action for almost a month. Fast forward to his return and one of the Franchise’s top Defensemen in Filip Hronek took the plunge into the injured reserve. Nevertheless injuries aren’t the only thing sour in the organization.
A little over a month into the season right in the thick of the Canuck’s injury problems JT miller would step away from the team citing personal reasons. Now what exactly those reasons are is still up in the air and to respect him and his family we’re not going to speculate. However this wouldn’t be the only controversy JT has found himself in this season. Shortly after his return rumours would run rampant that the spotlight in Vancouver could not be shared. Prior to his leave, a scuffle between the 31 year old and Pettersson occurred with little talk around it that shortly subsided. Yet when Miller returned coupled with a team skid, the rumours resurfaced and louder than ever. Despite both forwards coming out to shut down the claims and Miller even offering to bring Petey out with him for a media scrum, the vibes around the situation remain off.
But where there’s smoke there’s fire.
Miller, although being one of the Canucks best players through his first five seasons on the West coast, has continued to struggle up to this point and has seen himself sitting at the end of the bench on more than one occasion. Additionally Pettersson has had the worst 12 month span of his career. I should prefix this by saying he was almost certainly hurt in the back half and playoffs of last year. Because of the continued struggles fans are still pointing to signs of potential nagging injury. Although it’s bold to assume the outside media noise hasn’t been a shot to his confidence.
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The step down from last year can’t only be attributed to this year’s struggles, as more than the team could have asked for went right in 2024. Most of the roster put up career high numbers last year and that was bound to regress heading into the 2025 season. Moreover the team lost key depth players like; Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov, and Elias Lindhold in free agency. Just by looking at some of Vancouver’s biggest moments from the playoffs it is abundantly clear how crucial these guys were to the group. Losing so many crucial depth pieces was bound to have them hitting a snag.
Up to now, we’ve looked at how the glass is half empty, but let’s look at how it’s half full.
For starters even with this season being the chaotic mess that it has been. The team currently sits just barely below the playoff line with more than enough time to right the ship. The Canuck’s sit in one of the weaker divisions in the NHL with lots of Pacific games remaining. Historically this management group has shown a level of competency when making moves and it’s a safe bet that the right moves will be made even if that means trading a fan favorite. Furthermore they have the reigning coach of the year behind the bench who knows how to get the best out of the player he’s given.
Looking at the players you have Quinn Hughes who has shown that last year was not a flash in the pan and that he is arguably the best defenceman in the NHL. The reigning Norris winner is playing at a more than point per game pace while putting up some of the most desirable underlying statistics in the league. The Makar vs Hughes debate needs to be put to rest, it’s not very close. Goaltender Kevin Lankinen has been a pleasant surprise this season on the back line as the Canucks signed him right at the start of training camp with little expectations and we watched as he filled Demko’s shoes perfectly, and has continued to be a phenomenal tandem option and kept them in games numerous times thus far.
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With the trade deadline drawing nearer, talks have heated up mostly surrounding JT Miller and aside from a lineup shakeup often doing some good the hope is without the rift from number nine, Elias Pettersson may be able to start finding his game. When he’s on, he’s a top ten player in the NHL and that’s what the Canucks need right now.
The Canucks play Edmonton on hockey night in Canada in a divisional matchup and a playoff rematch, where the Canucks will look to begin their path to redemption this season.