Vancouver Canucks Season Recap
Record: 38-36-8, 84 Points, 3rd in the Pacific
GF/gm: 2.80 (17th)
GA/gm: 2.78 (11th)
SF/gm: 30 (T-19th)
SA/gm: 31 (14th)
PP%: 19.7 (15th)
PK%: 82.2 (9th)
In what is now rumoured to potentially be the Sedins last season Vancouver rode a rollercoaster season to a playoff berth and despite having the fewest points of any playoff team they put up a great fight against the eventual Stanley Cup Winner. This was a season of growth, of surprising performances from talented young players and the growing pains that go with that. Trevor Linden's patient work of re-stocking the cupboard with prospects and draft picks began bearing its first legitimate fruit this year as teenagers Nico Hischier and Mikhail Sergachev claimed full time roster spots and carved out significant roles while other young pieces like Bo Horvat, Jared McCann, Cole Cassels and Tyler Bertuzzi continued to progress. Charlie McAvoy and Rasmus Andersson both played well, with McAvoy stepping into a top four role with the poise of an experienced defenseman. Vancouver rolled out a blueline with three rookies in the starting lineup and made the playoffs, a respectable achievement in and of itself. The pieces look to be coming together, but how will this young group look without the familiar faces of Henrik and Daniel if they do indeed choose to hang them up? Veterans Mikko Koivu and Patrick Sharp may not return either, both were signed to only one year contracts and may test free agency again. Can Horvat and Tanev galvanize a young leadership group and see continued growth next year? Is Jacob Markstrom a question mark long term? He has turned out to be elite at times and very human at others, and this recent playoff series was a clear demonstration of that. Trevor Linden and his management team head into an offseason with many questions and challenges but one that is silver lined with more legitimate optimism than this fan base has dared entertain for some years.
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