Pacific Division Preview: How the West Will Be Won
Vancouver Canucks
Head Coach: Travis Green
Key Additions: Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Tim Schaller
Key Losses: The Sedin’s
Strengths: Bright Young Stars
Weaknesses: Defense, Goaltending
Predicted Point Total: 68 pts (29-43-10)
With now-retired Swedish duo of Henrik and Daniel Sedin out the door, the youth movement is in full effect for the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks still find a lack of consistency on offense, defense and in goal finishing seventh in the Pacific Division in back-to-back seasons,.
With a sub-par offseason at the hands of general manager Jim Benning, the Canucks are still couple years away from reaching the playoffs – a feat last accomplished last during the 2014-2015 season.
Vancouver gave Jay Beagle and Antoine Roussel matching four-year contracts to serve as veteran a presence in the bottom six. The Canucks re-signed several key players over the summer, including forwards Sven Baertschi, Jake Virtanen, and Markus Granlund as well as defensemen Troy Stecher and Derrick Pouliout.
However, that’s the not story for the Canucks this season as three superstar skaters look to stand out on the top of the organization: Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, and Elias Pettersson.
Bo Horvat will be the leader of this Vancouver Canucks offense. Horvat is now a cornerstone player for this franchise and has even bigger shoes to fill with the departure of the Sedin twins. Horvat carries a role of guidance on the top line with the budding talent of Boeser and Pettersson. The London, Ontario native has tallied at least 40 points in each of the last three seasons. In 64 games during his 2017-2018 campaign, the 23-year-old center put up a season-high 22 goals, 10 of which found the back of the net on the primary power play unit.
Brock Boeser was on pace to undoubtedly claim the Calder Trophy halfway through his freshman campaign. Unfortunately, a season-ending lower-back injury that took the award out of his grasp. Nevertheless, in 62 games, the 21-year-old right winger racked up a team-best 29 goals, which was second among all rookies behind the Winnipeg Jets’ Kyle Connor.
Boeser’s 55 points sat five below the rookie franchise record of 60 established by Ivan Hlinka and Pavel Bure. Boeser possesses a wicked wrist shot and camouflages like a “silent weapon”, sneaking his way past the opponent’s defense with a stealthy style of play. With his golden hair’s magical flow, Boeser seeks to shine more light onto this year and pose as the biggest threat in the Canucks young talented lineup.
Elias Pettersson is one of the premier emerging stars in the National Hockey League. The 2017 5th overall pick by the Vancouver Canucks impressed in the Swedish Hockey League with Vaxjo Lakers HC, pacing the league with 56 points. Furthermore, the 19-year-old Swedish forward held tremendous tryouts at the past two Vancouver rookie camps and looked unstoppable during this year’s preseason.
Pettersson is an electric two-way forward with an exceptional play-reading mindset, the ability to skate sharply and react in all three zones, and a threat to whiplash his wrister and slapshot. Boeser and Pettersson give a jolt of excitement to the Vancouver fans, and front office as the backbones of the franchise, along with Horvat for the many years to follow in Rogers Arena.
While the young stars are ready to bring out the best on offense, the Canucks still falter on the defensive and goaltending front. Jacob Markstrom is average, at best. He has never really shown any significant improvement defending between the pipes over the previous five seasons within the Canucks organization. Last year, the 28-year-old Swedish goaltender recorded a 2.71 GAA and .912 save percentage in 60 games.
Alongside backup Anders Nilsson, Markstrom have to reach beyond expectation in order for the Canucks to fight in more closely-contested games this season. Especially if Vancouver wants to compete with elite defensive Pacific Division teams, like the Sharks, Ducks, or Kings. Either way, the Canucks are still in the final stages of their rebuilding process with 2018 seventh overall draft pick Quinn Hughes close to rising up to the NHL level.